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About family united
FAMILY UNITED
Family United is a registered charity in England committed to combating social isolation and loneliness within the MRU Community in the UK. This community is defined as descendants of Sierra Leone, Guinea, Liberia, and Ivory Coast living in the UK.
Since we registered as a charity in the UK, our work had been in supporting struggling families across Southeast London with food and essential household items. During the peak of Covid-19, we supported thousands of families and vulnerable individuals with food and essential products. Details of this work including photographs can be downloaded from this site.
During the delivery of these services, we discovered that there are thousands of elderly and young community members battling with social isolation and loneliness. We also discovered that, due to cultural and other barriers, these community members could not access the range of support provided by social isolation and loneliness organisations operating in the area such as Age UK among others.
As the number of sufferers from social isolation and loneliness within the MRU Community continue to grow in an alarming rate, we collaborated with a sister organisation, Centre for the Advancement of Development and Human Rights (CAD-HR) to conduct a needs assessment and to consider what we could possibly do to provide support to these community members. Details of our assessment and strategy to combating social isolation and loneliness can be found and downloaded on this site.
As most of the Covid restrictive measures have been dismantled and we are now learning to live permanently with Covid, Family United is determined to ensure that every member in the MRU Community in the UK is identified and receives the full package of support that will enable them to participate fully in society.
social isolation and loneliness within the mru community
social isolation
Social isolation is a universal phenomenon that can be experienced by individuals of all ages and ethnic backgrounds. Chronic social isolation or a persistent lack of social ties has adverse effects such as increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease, stroke, and early mortality .
It is an objective measure reflecting an individual’s lack of contacts or ties with others such as family, friends, acquaintances, and neighbours. It is characterised as an absence or limitation in the quantity of social interactions.
It is distinct from the related subjective concept of loneliness which occurs when there is a perceived discrepancy between an individual’s desire and achieved level of social interaction.
loneliness
Loneliness on the other hand can be understood as an individual’s personal, subjective sense of lacking desired affection, closeness, and social interaction with others. Although loneliness has a social aspect, it is also defined by an individual’s subjective emotional state.
Loneliness is more dependent on the quality than the number of relationships. It is possible to be lonely but not to be socially isolated. Research shows that older people in large households and care homes are more likely to report loneliness. It is also quite possible to be socially isolated but not lonely.
Persistent loneliness can have profound impacts on physical and mental health, and quality of life. For example, loneliness can be as harmful for our health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day (Age UK, 2021). People with a high degree of loneliness are twice as likely to develop Alzheimer’s as people with a low degree of loneliness.
AGE WITH DIGNITY
A FAMILY UNITED PROJECT COMBATING SOCIAL ISOLATION AND LONELINESS
factors increasing loneliness and social isolation within the black community
factors increasing loneliness and social isolation within the black community
The risk of social isolation varies amongst minority ethnic groups. Individuals from minority ethnic backgrounds are more likely to experience health, social, and economic inequalities, thereby increasing the risk of social isolation.
BAME individuals are more likely to experience discrimination and racism over the course of their lives
The risk of social isolation varies amongst minority ethnic groups. Individuals from minority ethnic backgrounds are more likely to experience health, social, and economic inequalities, thereby increasing the risk of social isolation.
BAME individuals are more likely to experience discrimination and racism over the course of their lives. This may increase the risk of social isolation by limiting opportunities for social and economic participation.
Cultural and community organisations such as Family United can play a bridging role by facilitating access to services and raising awareness about ways of preventing social isolation.
factors increasing loneliness and social isolation within the black community
factors increasing loneliness and social isolation within the black community
factors increasing loneliness and social isolation within the black community
Research has identified a wide range of indicators of social isolation that may pose health risks. These may be influenced by the social environment, cultural factors, discrimination, and racism against particular minority groups.
Further studies suggested that multiple factors contribute to an individual’s risk of experiencing prolonged
Research has identified a wide range of indicators of social isolation that may pose health risks. These may be influenced by the social environment, cultural factors, discrimination, and racism against particular minority groups.
Further studies suggested that multiple factors contribute to an individual’s risk of experiencing prolonged social isolation.
These factors may include having poor physical or mental health, having a disability, living alone, being a carer, living in poor housing, and belonging to a certain minority group.
our approach to combating loneliness and social isolation
factors increasing loneliness and social isolation within the black community
our approach to combating loneliness and social isolation
As new entrants into the loneliness and social isolation prevention and reduction, we have studied the different approaches taken by numerous organisations such as Age UK, in combating these twin issues that continue to affect members of our community.
During our needs assessment, we discovered that due to language barriers and other socio
As new entrants into the loneliness and social isolation prevention and reduction, we have studied the different approaches taken by numerous organisations such as Age UK, in combating these twin issues that continue to affect members of our community.
During our needs assessment, we discovered that due to language barriers and other socio-cultural factors, older people within the MRU Community in the UK find it extremely difficult to access the range of support service available for those suffering from social isolation and/or loneliness.
Although we have identified several steps that we intend to take in the medium and long-term to reducing loneliness and social isolation within the MRU Community, our focus at this initial stage is to educate and raise awareness about the dangers of these twin issues, and the availability of support services.
We have also started providing support services to older people within our community. Our trained, experienced, and dedicated staff and volunteers will ensure that every lonely and socially isolated person within the MRU Community is identified and provided with a tailored support service that meet their needs.
Help Our Cause
Your support and contributions will enable us to meet our goals and improve conditions. Your generous donation will fund our mission.
