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Salvos Connection Point ( A multi technology tool to combat loneliness)
Incubator
Open Ideas/S1 - Sep-Nov 2019
Closed
UPDATE: 24.02.20
After a great pitch, the innovation team has decided to continue to support the idea into an incubator stage to develop a response to some questions raised by our Pitch Panel and to explore the potential of a social bond strategy to funding. The Idea Development grant would remain open to a future request for funding when a clear understanding of what is required has been proposed.
A National telephone line/ multi technology tool for loneliness.
- To tackle a social epidemic
- To inform government policy
- To create faith communities
- Transforming one life at a time
Did you know that loneliness is an epidemic that is being recognised by progressive governments including Denmark, New Zealand and the Uk. Theresa May former British Prime minister appointed a world first minister for loneliness in January 2018.
Did you know that feelings of loneliness are high risk factors for early death and rank among high risk factors such as high blood pressure, obesity, alcoholism and smoking more than half a packet a day. It has also been linked to increased risk of stroke, alzheimers and heart disease.
This line/platform can be for a chat or prayer, for encouragement or information on TSA services or programs, referrals to community initiatives and programs.It can be fluid and connect people to some of the other innovative ideas proposed. We can meet people where they are in life. With a trained and dedicated volunteer team. We have the infrastructure and expertise to make this a reality now.
In my role as with many in TSA, I speak to people, many disadvantaged, marginalised, struggling with social, financial, physical, mental and emotional issues. I very rarely can solve their hardships but I always find that listening is a gift that heals in ways that are too numerous to list.
I was speaking to a drought affected farmer who runs cattle on her farm alone. She was referred to me by a rural Chaplain. She needed more than I could give her. At the end of the call she said. “ Thank you so much, just speaking to you today has been a gift, I am so alone it consumes me. I look forward to speaking with you again”.
Another example was when speaking with a young single mother with two children with disabilities. She disclosed that she has social anxiety and finds it hard to leave the house. After some time speaking it came to light that despite her social anxiety and lack of support loneliness leads her to seek programs and organisations that can assist her and her children. I heard possibility and I told her of my experience of walking in to a church for the first time and how now I have a family and community I never thought possible. She sounded excited and decided she would research churches in her area. She was so grateful for our chat and I felt a shift in her.
This man has never left my heart, he was a client of Salvo Care Line. He was blind and lived alone after his wife had passed many years before. He was previously able to walk with a cane to the end of the street to speak with his neighbour every afternoon until his eyesight completely went. His daughter came every month to drop off groceries. She was very high up in her company he would proudly proclaim. He had worked out how to do things without his sight and would tell me how he could see flashes of light that helped him discern some things from others. He only ever wanted a chat and to sing me a song he use to sing his wife. It made his day to do this.
We so often want people to connect by coming to our churches or programs but these three people are examples of why we need to be accessible remotely to those who cannot come to us but still need support and connection.
To ensure that this platform is accessible to all from Gen z to our Baby boomers, to those with disabilities, mental health, English as a second language or no English at all. This platform can be telephone, instant messaging, email, whatever future technology that is created.
This article was just shared with me!
What department are you from?
Salvo Assessment Line / Doorways/Social
Previously Salvos Care Line as an employee and a volunteer
Who is your target market?
Everyone who is lonely or isolated, could be National or International. Infinite possibilities.
edited on Feb 23, 2020 by Neri Morris
Elizabeth Bland Nov 8, 2019
Thanks for the idea Fuchsia, a really important issue to put up! Looking forward to seeing how your idea develops.
Users tagged:
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Sushma Doddala Nov 8, 2019
Great initiative! Keep it up
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Anna-Louise Brumpton Nov 8, 2019
Of course i love this idea because it may be a way for our farmers who are isolated and suffering more than anyone knows, to have someone to debrief to.
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Paul de Lange Nov 8, 2019
Love your idea. Great work.
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Elle Smith Nov 8, 2019
I love this idea! You’re right sometimes the greatest thing you can offer is just to be there to listen to their worries and troubles so that they feel heard and acknowledged. I hope everyone gets behind this idea !
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Lorraine Hynes Nov 8, 2019
Love this idea and totally agree. Love reading the stories and love that we get the opportunity to speak into others lives and just listen to what they are going through as well, and maybe speak a word of encouragement
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Teaghan East Abbott Nov 8, 2019
What a beautiful person you are Fuchsia and what a great idea - all the best
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Mellissa Smith Nov 8, 2019
I think this is a great idea. Even small connections can make a huge difference in peoples lives. Thank you.
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Selena Scott Nov 8, 2019
Fuchsia is an outstanding leader for innovation and change. This idea demonstrates forethought, compassion, consideration, and kindness to those most in need. This idea addresses the most basic of human needs and that is the need to not be alone, and to be connected. Rather than other services that address physical needs, this idea takes on the humanistic need for people to feel like someone is listening, acknowledging, helping, and caring for them. We live in a broken world, that does isolate people instead of loving them and embracing them. This causes depression, anxiety, loneliness, separation, and desperation. We are not just physical being, but spiritual and emotional. This addresses loneliness in a manner than can impact at the earliest opportunity, rather than the last ditch. It is incredibly easy to access by all and without the complication of queues, paperwork, interviews, referrals, booking, etc. All the things that prevent a service from being accessible have been removed making it front line ready. Outstanding - thank you Fuchsia. You are a guiding light to many.
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Firuze Cerruto Nov 9, 2019
Connection is the best gift we can give any person. The gift of connection is what makes us human and it is connection that allows us to have a relationship with God, our families, friends, colleagues and community. Take connection away and we are isolated, alone and fail to thrive. I have found in my line of work over the decade that loss of connection is a major contribution to many problems such as sustenance abuse, homeless, unemployment and poor mental health. The fantastic thing about The Salvation Army is that it offers connection to the community, a place you can go to and feel a sense of hope, understanding and welcome. This is how we change lives. When you look at rural communities and farmers, they have a lot of obstacles to connection and therefore, services and support. Their voices are not being heard either. With your idea Fuchsia, I really think we can bridge that gap and offer so much connection and human love. I really want to see your idea pull through because it will move mountains for so many people. You are amazing to do be doing this. God bless.
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Keith Livingstone Nov 9, 2019
I love this idea.Very keen for it.It is what we are about.Hearts and minds.
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Belinda Atherton Nov 10, 2019
Love your heart for people and passion to make a difference Fuchsia. Beautiful idea that so many could benefit from.
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Maggie Ingham Nov 11, 2019
Fuchsia
The thought behind this is awesome. I know that you have a heart for helping people and would have put a lot of thought into this idea. It is one that I totally back and would love to see up and running. Loneliness is not just for those that we speak to everyday in our work but effects those who go home at night to empty home and night and have no one to discuss there day with. Just the though of knowing there would be someone to chat to. This could extend to also know about those in our communities that need to connect with people and us being able to be that connection with the phone.
Blessings to your idea its AWESOME
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Mervyn Holland Nov 11, 2019
Mature aged readers, do you remember when you were young ? did you know all the neighbors in your street?
I did a quick poll on this and those over 50 knew neighbors at least five to ten houses either side. Younger generations knew on two to five.
Now, those numbers have shrunk. Connection is decreasing.
Social isolation and loneliness are increasing at an alarming rate, and while there are groups seeking to address this, we should be a a rapidly growing need our Army in Australia should be aggressively addressing.
A quick search on Loneliness in Australia reveals some alarming realities:
More than one-fifth of Australians rarely or never feel they have someone to talk to or turn to for help, and more than one quarter feel lonely for at least three days every week, according to a comprehensive study of loneliness and wellbeing.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/20...eone-to-talk-to
How many of us are lonely?
• One in four Australians reported feeling lonely each week, the 2018 Australian Loneliness Report revealed.
• One in two sometimes or always feel alone and 30 per cent of people say they don't belong to a friendship group, the report found.
• One in 10 Australians currently lack social support, a recent Relationships Australia study found.
• Earlier studies found that somewhere between 17 and 60 percent of Australians say they are lonely.
• Exact figures on loneliness and isolation can be hard to obtain, because respondents are sometimes reticent to name their loneliness due to stigma, says Dr Michelle Lim of Swinburne University, lead Australian Loneliness Report researcher and chair of the Australian Coalition to End Loneliness's scientific advisory committee.
What about a LONELINESS LINK LINE or something similar?
We already have national call centers, so why not add this function?
SALVO STORES - why not set up one small section called the LOUNGE FOR THE LONELY? Raise up more volunteers to sit and listen or even share a cuppa.
Among lonely people, form a group LONELY LINK UP at corps and centers.
Corps that have community gardens. could survey neighborhoods, find the lonely and get them into community, weeding, watering and welding new friendships.
Our capacity to meet this rapidly growing need is limited only by our willingness to explore and implement ministry solutions.
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Gina Woodhouse Nov 11, 2019
ALL DONE
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Natalie Croke Nov 11, 2019
I love this idea, well done Fuch!
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Ruchica Gupta Nov 11, 2019
Nice idea! Great initiative!
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Tracie Konc Nov 11, 2019
Great idea Fuschia
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Swaroop Babu Nov 11, 2019
Great idea Fuschia. We need more selfless people like you I'm the planet.
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Rahul Bhatia Nov 11, 2019
Grea idea !!! I would say people need support to fight against the evils of lonliness.
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Sunil Philip Nov 11, 2019
Great initiative
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Michael Ekmekjian Nov 12, 2019
Great idea & best of luck with it!!
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Chris Bernasconi Nov 12, 2019
I am so proud of you Fuchsia..
This is a brilliant idea and it is through love, listening and kindness that the world becomes a better place xxx
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Marg lupton Nov 12, 2019
Excellent Fuchsia. Love your work!
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Heather Craven Nov 12, 2019
Many of the calls I took when I was a telephone counsellor for the Salvo Care Line related to people’s loneliness. There were people who were isolated who would call regularly just to touch base with someone- it would be great to have a new platform/s to address this need. I wish you every success with this venture.
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Lesley Chow Nov 12, 2019
I was a Volunteer Salvo Counsellor a few years back and recieved countless phone calls of lonely people . This is a great initiative and hopefully there will be a Multi-Cultural area for people who has limited or Non-English background as well.
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Jackie Schatz Nov 13, 2019
Hi Fuchsia,
I really like your idea of a multimedia support for loneliness. I especially like it as loneliness is ubiquitous and there is no stigma of a diagnosis and perhaps less shame in declaring loneliness. You can count on my support.
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Zoe Marriott Nov 14, 2019
I have been part of Doorways as a Caseworker for only a few months. In my experience so far there are many community members experiencing substance addiction challenges and often when I ask them if they can identify why they use on a daily basis, majority of the time they say it is because they are alone in this world. There seems to be a connection between loneliness and substance addiction challenges, I have enrolled into a post-graduate course specifically in addiction next year to understand more, but the feeling of being alone in this world comes up often and it is heart breaking.
I know you have always been passionate about this issue Fuchsia, loneliness is becoming a social crisis and its important for us to be aware of this large community issue so we all take extra time to listen with our hearts and take more time to encourage and reach out to those around us. You are right when you say listening with our heart is so important, it is a precious gift we can choose to give others freely.
Zoe Marriott
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Neri Morris Nov 19, 2019
Status label added: RDL
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Peter Kost Nov 28, 2019
I love this and it has my full support.
Being a Lifeline Crisis Support Volunteer, I often assist MANY callers battling with loneliness and isolation. There is an immediate need to combat this social issue
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Peter Kost Nov 28, 2019
did my comment post?
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Neri Morris Dec 4, 2019
Status label added: Open Ideas/S1 - Sep-Nov 2019
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Neri Morris Feb 23, 2020
Status label added: Incubator/Trial
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Neri Morris 11 months ago
Status label removed: RDL
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Neri Morris 2 months ago
Status label added: Closed
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