Manx charity minibus services to tackle southern isolation

Southern Befrienders provide transport for isolated residents

A grant to help isolated residents get out of the house and socialise will "add a great deal of joy" to their lives, a charity has said.

Port Erin-based Southern Befrienders, which aims to reduce loneliness and isolation, has been awarded £37,000 by Manx Lottery Trust.

The money would see 50 members use a collection and drop off service to attend events, the charity said.

The funds would cover the costs of the services for three years.

Suzanne Geoghegan, scheme manager of Southern Befrienders, said the charity had seen the numbers of people facing loneliness increasing on the island.

She said that of the charity's 200 members, about 30 only interacted with the charity through the befriending service, and a further 20 had lost the ability "to get out and about".

'Otherwise quiet lives'

As some members were no longer able to drive and could no longer "manage the two or three streets to the main road" to get the bus, which left the bus service "just out of reach", it had become difficult for them to attend events, Ms Geoghegan said.

She said: "We have many members who would love to meet other members, converse, and share stories, which would add a great deal of joy in their otherwise quiet lives."

The service was important because being unable to leave their home independently could "cause their mental and physical state to deteriorate rapidly", she said.

Providing transport for the next three years would enable those members to "see old friends, make new ones, and simply enjoy themselves without a worry", she added.

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