TWO more Dawlish social groups have been recognised for their achievements helping reduce loneliness in the town.
Dawlish Action for Youth and Dawlish Ladies Social Lunch Group will receive the latest OWL awards from Dawlish Town Council.
The aim of the OWL project is to look at reducing the stigma associated with loneliness and build a looking and listening community.
This brings the total to 20 groups which have received the award.
The purpose is to ‘encourage and empower residents, voluntary organisations, charities, schools, and businesses to feel comfortable and be positive around those that feel lonely and isolated’.
Cllr Lin Goodman-Bradbury, vice chairman of Dawlish Town Council Mental Wellbeing & Suicide Prevention Working Group, said: ‘Since last summer, the Dawlish Town Council Mental Wellbeing and Suicide Prevention Working Group has presented eighteen Owl awards for outstanding citizenship to reduce loneliness and isolation in the Parish of Dawlish.
‘We will now have presented twenty ‘Owl’ awards which shows what a kind and caring town the parish of Dawlish is.’
Chloe Brock, lead youth leader of Dawlish Action for Youth, explained how the group, based at the Red Rock Centre in Sandy Lane, provides sessions three times a week for young people aged eight to 16.
Sessions also run for young people and adults with additional needs.
Chloe said: ‘On average we have about one hundred and fifty attendees a week where young people meet old and make new friends from different schools in the area.
‘Currently we are trying to attract other members who would benefit from making new friends especially if they are shy, lonely and find it difficult to socialise.
‘The centre has a range of activities and topics that we focus on and one of these is addressing loneliness and connecting staff and members to new members to make them feel welcome.’
The centre also runs sports activities and art and craft groups.
Dawlish Ladies Social Lunch Group sees members meet for lunch every week and listen to speakers.
Co-ordinator Joan Mead explained: ‘I recognised a need to bring lonely and isolated people together in the town.
‘Members in the group welcome new members and make an effort to connect with them.’
Running for more than four years, members enjoy meeting new people and the ‘overwhelmingly positive experience’ of joining in.
Mayor of Dawlish Lisa Mayne presented the awards which are a ‘mark of the Dawlish Town Council’s appreciation, for all the efforts they have made in supporting, helping, befriending and reaching out to people who are lonely and can be somewhat isolated in our community’.
She also presented certificates to the winners of this year’s Dawlish Community Awards, below.
Recipient of the under 18 category was Cameron Bentley, the adult award went to Nigel Rhys and the organisation award went jointly to Dawlish Community Transport and Assist Teignbridge.