Churches Together South Tyneside
Research Project
(Photos from the Reflecting Together Project Conference)
From Nov 2023 to Nov 2024 Churches Together South Tyneside (CTST) has partnered with Stefanie Conradt, a Postdoctoral Research Fellow of the Centre for Baptist Studies, with funding through the William Leech Research Fund, to create a participatory research project. The Reflecting Together Project is a participatory theological action research project that offers a theological response to the public concern about the experiences of loneliness and social isolation of older people.
The idea for this research was a response from CTST to the reality that South Tyneside is an ageing local authority with a below average life expectancy and it is the 3rd most deprived area in the North East. “It is the distinct task of this project to give voice to the marginalised experiences of older people and those around them and identify the nuances of loneliness and social isolation (The Reflection Together Booklet, p.7).” This project sought to establish new insight and action to help CTST and its networks to address the individual and structural issues of loneliness and social isolation in their area.
This project prioritized partnership where all people contribute, reflect and take notice together. First, staff led reflective conversations with volunteers and beneficiaries involved in Happy at Home and Nurturing Dementia, both CTST projects. The transcripts of these conversations were then taken to a variety of reflection groups, including the CTST Trustees, member churches, agencies with whom CTST shares clients, and theological educators. The intent being that these reflection conversations should lead to changed practices and actions.
Below is a link to the video, accompanying booklet and report where you can read the details of the research and findings. It was clear that noticing, making contact, and reciprocal relationship are crucial steps in addressing loneliness in older adults. Reciprocal relationship implies not just ‘doing for’ older adults but ‘doing with’. This means, instead of only receiving help and waiting on services, older adults need spaces to share their story and to give and contribute to their communities.
(Photos from the Reflecting Together Project Conference)
“Reflecting together theologically in this project taught me that the Holy Spirit is the “with” between people (Reflecting Together booklet, p.9).”
If we ignore these experiences, we neglect the human dignity of older adults. Experiences of loneliness and social isolation are not individual problems, they need to be addressed by the community. A community that notices and sees, a community that is pastorally engaged – and not just ministers - the whole church community is responsible to notice, chat, and make time to connect. This is a Christ-like noticing of the dignity of the ‘other’ and communicating this dignity in our listening, respect, and ‘joining with’.
Bernadette Askins of CTST said, “When we shared our own experiences of loneliness and isolation, we realised that these are common experiences and there is nothing shameful about naming them. It isn't always obvious that someone might feel this way and the importance of noticing and reaching out was a strong theme running through the research findings.”
I was able to participate in a reflection group and, along with other ministry leaders, we recognized the need for a collective response. This cannot be down to a minister or even just a church but requires a collaboration between church communities to “…act out the gospel together – as one united body, reflecting the one Body of Christ (The Reflecting Together Project Report, p.35).”
This project has stimulated and connected church and community groups in a shared ethic of dignity and care to older adults in South Tyneside. I want to express my congratulations and gratitude for all involved who put in so much hard work on this project. Please follow the link below to watch the video and read the report. May it encourage and inspire further reflection in our diverse church and ecumenical communities for ways to engage the issues of social isolation and loneliness with empathy and hope.
Resources:
The Report, Video and Booklet that accompanies the film can be found at:
https://www.rpc.ox.ac.uk/research-life/centre-for-baptist-studies/research-projects-partnerships/reflecting-together-project/
Contact Bernadette Askins for further information: bernadette@churchestogethersouthtyneside.org