By Saturday 28th September is the culmination of ‘Chatty Hull’, an exciting city-wide initiative led by Absolutely Cultured.
Chatty Hull has one simple aim – to get the people of Hull talking. Listening to residents’ feedback during various projects they’ve been involved with across the city, volunteers from Absolutely Cultured recognised that there was a clear theme emerging – people wanted to get to know their neighbours.
It is also well established that social interactions help to build stronger, well-connected communities. This in turn creates bonds that can transform neighbourhoods and, in some cases, lives by helping to combat loneliness, isolation and depression.
Loneliness is now seen by many as one of the largest health concerns we face. Some research even says loneliness, living alone and poor social connections are as bad for your health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day. The same research says that loneliness can be worse for you than obesity.
A study by The Co-op and the British Red Cross revealed recently that over 9 million people in the UK across all adult ages are either always, or often, lonely.
In response to facts like this, the volunteer team at Absolutely Cultured decided to embark on Chatty Hull. Working with partner organisations including The Hull We Want, Back to Ours, Believe in Hull, Hull City Council and the Police and Crime Commissioner, they extended an invitation to everyone across the city to get involved.
This Saturday the project will be brought to life by 100 volunteers taking to 100 seats across the city ready to get chatting. So, if you see a person with a blue jacket sitting on a bench, make sure you go and have a chat.
Even better, why not make sure that you chat to a person why not try to do at least one of these small acts of kindness?
- Pay it forward in a café or coffee shop and purchase a drink for someone;
- Take your neighbour’s bin out;
- Bake a cake for next door;
- Talk to people at the bus stop;
- Check in on an elderly neighbour;
- Get together with families on your street.
#ChattyHull
Contact Gi Hull
Email us: news@gi-media.co.uk
Follows us on Facebook for all the latest local stories, breaking news and to join the conversation
