Loneliness can affect everyone
Dear Editor, This latest ONS survey on loneliness shows it doesn’t affect older people – it hits anyone regardless of their age in life.
We have so many new ways to communicate with people these days thanks to social media and technology, but more often than not, the traditional method of having a face-to-face conversation can dramatically help brighten someone’s day.
But how do people with sight loss feel? Apart from loneliness, they can feel isolated too, keen to become active and connected members of their community.
That’s why our befriending service is a lifeline for many people with a sight impairment as it offers companionship and support – it’s a win-win situation.
Volunteer befrienders are making a huge difference to the life of the person with sight loss and also can meet new friends and learn new skills, such as sight awareness, emergency first aid and guiding techniques training.
Feeling lonely is also damaging towards mental health – it’s as bad as smoking 15 cigarettes a day and more dangerous than obesity.
Let’s help halt and reduce this epidemic and make the time to stop and listen to someone suffering from loneliness.
Not only will you be doing a good deed, but you may also discover something new from someone else’s wisdom whilst giving them a reason to love life. Carl Hodson, chief executive, Fife Society for the Blind
People’s Vote Dear Editor, The launch of the ‘People’s Vote’ campaign group, which brings together MPs, celebrities and business leaders, calling for a public vote on the final Brexit deal between the UK and the EU, is to be welcomed.
The vote, held almost two years ago, was very much a vote in the dark and no one had any idea what the consequences were going to be.
Indeed, the terms and conditions of Brexit are quite unlike how they were presented during the run up to the 2016 referendum.
Some Brexit campaigners deceived the British people with their false and deliberately misleading slogans and speeches – £350 million a week promised to the NHS being just one example.
However, the fallout from Brexit is becoming increasingly clear, especially around issues such as the implications of Brexit for the Irish border as well as the cold reality that it is hurting our economy, our public services and the life chances of future generations.
We are, ultimately, about to embark on a course that will make both ourselves and our children less prosperous than they are now.
Brexit is such a huge and momentous time in our history, one which will affect future generations for many years to come, and is an issue that should not be left simply to the politicians.
Now that we are learning the real cost of Brexit, the only way to resolve the huge challenge we now face as a country is through a people’s vote on the final Brexit deal. Alex Orr