Loneliness could be considered the antithesis of happiness and wellbeing. This is why here at Network of Wellbeing (NOW) we are proud to have supported the ‘Breaking The Spell of Loneliness Tour’ run by leading journalist George Monbiot and folk singer Ewan McLennan.
Leading research shows that the single most important action people can take to enhance wellbeing is to ‘connect’ with others. This offers a valuable clue as to the links between loneliness and wellbeing: as loneliness increases, wellbeing and happiness tends to fall, and vice versa.
The ‘Breaking The Spell of Loneliness Tour’ run by George Monbiot and Ewan McLennan sought to directly address loneliness and build wellbeing by bringing people together to connect, share and enjoy inspiring music.
NOW attended a range of concerts as part of George’s and Ewan’s Tour, holding NOW stalls and wherever possible bringing in local wellbeing organisation, so those attending could find out more about wellbeing and how to get involved.
With thousands of people attending these moving performances, there’s clearly an interest from people to address this issue. When the NOW team attended these events, our stall was always swamped with people keen to explore ways to tackle loneliness and improve wellbeing in their communities.
Simple Yet Impactful Solutions
The beauty of the Tour has in part been the simplicity of it’s message: there are lots of accessible yet incredibly meaningful things we can all do to tackle loneliness.
Each concert on the Tour ended by encouraging everyone in the audience to sing the final song (“We Shall Overcome”) together and then talk with someone sitting near them whom they didn’t know previously. Everyone was then invited to continue the conversation, along with Ewan and George, in the nearest pub or bar if they wished!
Addressing Loneliness, Building Wellbeing
Another innovative feature of the Tour was its highlighting the work of organisations across the UK which are addressing loneliness and building wellbeing. NOW is proud to be one of these organisations, and we were very touched by George’s support for our message highlighting the links between caring for ourselves, for each other and for the world around us.
Huge thanks to George and Ewan for organising this amazing Tour and allowing us to be a part of it!
Building Wellbeing Together
NOW is keen to help you explore the best solutions for building wellbeing together. You may also enjoy reading:
- Suggestions for how to improve wellbeing in your community.
- Ways you can connect with our network.
- Building Wellbeing Together webinar series: Free regular online events.