Loneliness/Social isolation

Downloadable app for your phone – information on a range of organisations who can help. Search Google Play store or Apple’s App store.

Loneliness/Social Isolation

Financial hardship can increase levels of loneliness/social isolation.

Loneliness Network –

The Loneliness Network in Mid and East Antrim brings together Northern Health and Social Care Trust, and other statutory, voluntary and community groups to help combat loneliness by connecting people. Information on all organisations throughout Mid and East Antrim Borough which are involved in the loneliness network is available at: Loneliness Network Listing | Mid and East Antrim Borough Council

Chatty Benches: In Mid and East Antrim the ‘Chatty Benches’ are brightly painted yellow and have a plaque with a unique QR code linking users to useful information on the Loneliness Network. To date benches can be found in:

 Shaftesbury park in Carrickfergus  Town park in Larne  Between Wellington street and Church Street in Ballymena  Peoples Park , Ballymena  Maine Riverside Walk, Cullybackey  Portglenone Marina  Whitehead Railway Garden – on corner of Edward Rd and Victoria Ave  Ballykeel, Ballymena  Larne Promenade  Ahoghill Park  Sentry Hill, Ballymena

Chatty Cafés: The idea of a Chatty Café is to encourage venues to designate a table and make it available as a ‘chatty table’ where customers can sit if they are happy to talk to other customers. Our local Chatty Cafes are:

 Blessings Coffee Shop, Cullybackey  The Salvation Army, Main Street, Larne  The Prom Café, Larne Leisure Centre  Barbara Anns Home Bakery, Larne  The Lunch Box, AEL, Larne  The Clocktower Café, Carrickfergus  Delaceys Bakery, Carrickfergus  Café Rima, De Courcey Centre, Carrickfergus

 Ballykeel 1, Moving Forward Breakfast Club, Ballymena  Café Riva, Larne  The Oasis, Larne Elim Pentecostal Church

Mid and East Antrim Agewell Partnership (MEAAP) –

Is a local inter-agency based partnership aimed at improving the lives of Older People aged 50 years and over, living in the Ballymena, Larne & Carrickfergus areas. Contact them to find out more about the support available. Broughshane House, 70 Main Street, Broughshane, Ballymena, BT42 4JW Number : 028 2565 8604 Email : info@meaap.co.uk Website : www.meaap.co.uk

Men's Shed -

Men's sheds are non-profit local organisations that provide a space for craftwork and social interaction.

Harryville Men's Shed

Unit 4, 20 Antrim Road, Ballymena, BT42 2BJ Contact : Denver McMeekin, 07968-860567

Portglenone Men's Shed

61 Main Street, Portglenone, BT44 8HP Contact : Micheal McCarney, 028 2582 0150

Carrickfergus Men's Shed

Shaftesbury Cross, Carrickfergus BT38 8LL Contact : Brian Sheilds, 07765232392

Inter Ethnic Forum -

Aims to help ethnic minorities within Mid & East Antrim Borough Council area integrate, and to promote their cultures in the local community. 20 William Street, Ballymena, BT43 6AW Number : 028 2564 8822 Email : Ivy.goddard@interethnicforum.org.uk / Natasha.taylor@interethnicforum.org.uk

Here2Help -

Here2Help has been developed by a local initiative from people who want to make the range of services and support available to anyone in crisis. The aim of the app is to provide quick to find helplines for users to get support instantly and also a wide range of links to reading materials that can help people in a time of need.

The #Here2Help app is now available and FREE to download from Google Play Store and the Apple iTunes App Store for your smartphone or tablet device.

Libraries NI

Local libraries provide events, designed to encourage people of all age groups to interact and make connections through their common interests. Some event