One in three Murray Bridge locals feel lonely – here’s how you can help
The Spark program is calling for people with or without experience of loneliness to help design community solutions.
This sponsored story is brought to you by Spark.
Most Australians feel lonely at some point in their lives.
Your ideas could help change that.
The team behind an Adelaide University research project is looking for Murray Bridge residents willing to talk about the issue of loneliness and come up with ideas about how to tackle it.
Associate Professor Nadia Corsini says the Spark project is all about listening to community members and building solutions together.
“It’s about community-led opportunities for people to feel a sense of connection in their community, particularly if they don’t have things they do regularly like church, sport or social groups … if they’ve fallen through the cracks,” she says.
In the Adelaide Hills, the Spark project has led to regular cafe catch-ups, nature walks, creative workshops, a co-working club, a men’s social group, and pop-up yoga and dance events.
Whether you’re someone who has experienced loneliness, a community leader, a service provider, a creative or fit into another box, you’re invited to help shape solutions with the Murray Bridge community.
You can participate by:
- Attending three upcoming workshops at Murray Bridge Regional Gallery, on August 10, 17 and 24
- Participating in an hour-long, one-on-one interview
- Filling in an online survey
If you’re willing to attend the workshops or participate in an interview, the Spark team can offer a gift card with a value of up to $200 as a way of saying thank you.
The only requirement is for participants to be aged 25 or older.
The Spark project has created women's empowerment sessions, bushwalks and men's groups in the Adelaide Hills. Photos: Spark.
Previous participants have gushed about the benefits of taking part:
- “Lots of wonderful conversations, laughter and happy tears”
- “I felt the excitement amongst our group in offering connection to others”
- “I’ve met so many great people already”
“It truly is an opportunity to create something from the ground up – a fun, interesting, rare opportunity,” Nadia says.
“We found in the Adelaide Hills that the people who were involved in the workshops ended up being quite involved in Spark in the community, and they’ve reported that it has made such a difference in their lives.
“They’ve found out about things going on in their communities, they’ve become engaged in their communities, they’ve made friends.
“Taking part in the workshop is a great connection opportunity in itself – you’re among like-minded people who are there to solve a problem.”
Locally, the Spark project will be supported by the Rural City of Murray Bridge, Murray Bridge Community Centre and AC Care.
- More information: sparkconnection.org.au.
- Express an interest in a workshop or interview: adelaideuniwide.qualtrics.com.
- Take the survey: adelaideuniwide.qualtrics.com.
Advertising to more than 20,000 highly engaged locals can do wonders for your business. Call Jane Intini on 0418 835 768 or email jane@murraybridge.news.
Peri Strathearn
