Carr Gomm aims to bring communities together, starting with a fundraising campaign to get people moving
A charity has launched a fundraising drive as it bids to tackle loneliness in the community.
Carr Gomm aims to raise £30,000 to fund a variety of local projects and activities to bring communities together and help people establish long lasting connections and friendships.
The campaign, entitled Team Carr Gomm, aims to get people moving no matter what their age or level of mobility.
The charity is asking people to pledge a target distance, as part of the campaign’s 1,000 mile virtual route around Scotland.
Miles can be clocked up in any way possible, be it walking, dancing, swimming or in a wheelchair push challenge – as long as people are getting active, being social and raising some money along the way.
Eilidh MacDonald, senior operations manager for community development at Carr Gomm, said the campaign aims to get people out and about.
She said: “Loneliness is fast becoming a social epidemic so it’s vital that we take action now to reduce the staggering statistic that one in ten (11 per cent) of adults in Scotland often feel lonely.
“The money raised from this campaign will go towards funding much-needed projects and activities for people of all ages and stages but across Scotland. We would love for as many people as possible to get involved.”
Within days of the campaign launching, the charity has raised over £1,000 with a total of 1,263 miles pledged.
The campaign has since received the backing from a number of politicians, including Ash Denham, MSP for Edinburgh Eastern (pictured above).
She said: “Carr Gomm is a fantastic charity that has done some great work in the constituency.
“The majority of us will feel lonely at some point in our life, and without anyone to reach out to it can become a horrible cycle of social isolation.
“By organising projects and activities in the local community, Carr Gomm helps to bring people together and draw them out of that isolation.”
More information and details on how to sign up are available on Carr Gomm's website.
