Post by Larissa Stevenson

Until recently I had no idea so many organisations are working to tackle loneliness. I’m glad they are 💛 It’s Loneliness Awareness Week 2026. We can all feel lonely at any point in our lives. Some life chapters make it more apparent; think leaving school, a new job, retirement, divorce, children flying the nest, and moving to a new area. It can arrive with a thud, it can creep upon us, or maybe it’s ever present. But here’s the thing, humans are literally wired to connect so it’s no wonder being lonely has a negative impact on our health & wellbeing. That’s why I love volunteering! It can tick all five of the wellbeing pillars to support daily ‘magic’ that gives us a boost. In volunteering, we are Mindful in role when giving our time for something that’s not work. We are Active as we move to carry out our roles. We Give our time to a cause that we care about. We get curious and are Interested about the cause, the organisation, and the role that we play. And we Connect with others in a way that feels meaningful, sometimes magical. MAGIC! In times of loneliness don’t ignore it, volunteer. I did. #LonelinessAwarenessWeek2026 #GivingLonelinessAVoice