When post offices in rural communities were shut down[1], it was not just the inconvenience that residents complained about. People who lived in the affected villages regularly reported that the “heart had been ripped out of their community.”[2] Continue reading “Loneliness and new communities”
Loneliness and younger people
It’s a little known fact that the younger adults are, the more likely they are to feel lonely. Those in the 18 to 24-year-old age group are more vulnerable to loneliness than those in any other age bracket. (48% feel lonely often compared with 25% aged over 65.)[1] Continue reading “Loneliness and younger people”
Loneliness and older people
Loneliness is not an inevitable part of old age, but older people are at particular risk of becoming lonely due to the increased likelihood they will experience bereavement and ill health. What’s more, the risks of being lonely are increasing due to changes in our social structure, including: Continue reading “Loneliness and older people”
Loneliness and mental health
Loneliness can be both a cause and a result of mental illness. We know that when people are lonely, they’re more vulnerable to common mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, paranoia or panic attacks. These conditions can then cause people to become even more isolated and lonely, leading to a downward spiral of unhappiness and despair. Continue reading “Loneliness and mental health”
What does loneliness look like?
Most of us can say, from our experience, however small, what loneliness feels like, but what does it look like? That question was more than hypothetical when trying to imagine how my most recent publication Loneliness: Accident or Injustice? would be illustrated. Continue reading “What does loneliness look like?”
On being let loose in the Oxfam Bookshop
I have had the great pleasure of being let loose in the Oxfam Bookshop in Kings Heath, Birmingham. The store came up with a great idea – The Curated Shelf – to bring writers and readers closer together. During September, it invited five local authors and members of the OxfamReads! series to curate shelves from the donated offerings. Continue reading “On being let loose in the Oxfam Bookshop”
Tune-up your business at Google’s Digital Garage
I am delighted to be team lead at Google’s Digital Garage in the Library of Birmingham, which offers free digital tune-ups to small businesses. Continue reading “Tune-up your business at Google’s Digital Garage”
Elizabeth is Missing
The central idea of Emma Healey’s debut novel is eccentric, very English and ingenious. Elizabeth is Missing is a detective story narrated by an elderly lady with dementia. Continue reading “Elizabeth is Missing”
Fancy a one-to-one with Google?
Yay! Two of my favourite things came together today – Google and the Library of Birmingham.
Google launched its Digital Garage in our beautiful library today. It’s aim is to help small businesses in Birmingham grow through their use of the web.
So if you fancy a one-to-one session with a Google “technician”, you can step into a pod and have a chat about your digital issue . Continue reading “Fancy a one-to-one with Google?”
What is a writer?
When people ask what I do for a living, I tend to say I’m a writer. Maybe I should think of a different answer, because too often people imagine my work involves sitting at home all day coming up with inspiration. Continue reading “What is a writer?”