Ambassador Spotlight: Tackling Loneliness in the London Borough of Bromley
The latest blog in our Ambassador Spotlight series has been written by our Ambassador for Local Government and Public Health, Helayna Jenkins.
Hi, everyone,
My name is Helayna Jenkins, and I am Principal Loneliness Champion at the London Borough of Bromley.
My job is to implement the Tackling Loneliness Strategy from 2022 — 2026. My career started in the construction industry as an Incorporated Geotechnical Engineer, managing on-site projects and I’ve gained around a decade’s worth of experience working in construction within a multitude of roles to support people in this sector.
During maternity leave, I found a local role in Bromley which would allow me to use all my skills to support my family, neighbours, local communities and the wider area. I became the first Principal Loneliness Champion within Bromley.
From 2022, I have been helping to shape local society using my unique ‘problem solving skills’ in a new age way, to bring people of all ages, stages of life and backgrounds together, and help increase social connection for all.
In the same year, I became an ambassador for the Tackling Loneliness Hub, creating a ‘local authorities’ group as I wanted to find other people like me within local authorities and learn from them. I am now an advisor for the Tackling Hub and hope this role will bring support, inspiration and helps bring people together whilst thinking outside the box on what we can all do to help improve social connection. We can all make a 1% difference whether it be speaking with our neighbour, finding a hobby in your local community, signposting help and support to others or be kind. We can all play our part in reducing people feeling lonely and/ or social isolated.
We are currently delivering:
- Delivery of a frontline staff training programme to increase awareness of loneliness, recognise those at risk of experiencing loneliness, have the tools to start up a conversation with individuals about it and signpost residents to support services. Over 600 people have attended this free training.
- Continuing to support KS1 — Sixth form students to understand more about loneliness, to normalise it and reduce the stigma so we can speak more openly. Over 3,300 pupils have attended an assembly on loneliness, with over 2,000 pupils taking part in a workbook activity on loneliness within their school.
- In the process of organising our yearly Council run Big Lunches across Bromley for hundreds of residents to connect across Bromley and find out more about local services.
- Bring together a wide range of local authorities who are all passionate about loneliness and want to learn from others. I have now established a group with over 30 members representing 26 local authorities across England and Ireland.
Bromley’s international award-winning Loneliness Strategy is now being recognised on a globally and helping to influence and inspire others.
The latest blog in our Ambassador Spotlight series has been written by our Ambassador for Local Government and Public Health
Biography
Heleyna Jenkins
As principal Loneliness Champion for LB Bromley, Helayna is dedicated to creating innovative solutions to combat loneliness at a grassroots/local level & implements ‘Tackling Loneliness’ strategies in LB Bromley by delivering workshops to 100’s of Loneliness champions across the borough and beyond.
@Helayna.Jenkins