Introducing Marmalade Trust: Impact Q's Charity Partner for June
We are proud to introduce Marmalade Trust as Impact Q's featured charity partner for June. Based in Bristol, Marmalade Trust is one of the UK's leading charities dedicated to raising awareness of loneliness and empowering people of all ages to make meaningful social connections. Founded in 2013, the charity works tirelessly to create a society where loneliness is recognised, understood, and addressed with compassion and action.
What began as a simple act of kindness by founder Amy Perrin has grown into an award-winning organisation with national and international reach. After discovering that several older people she volunteered with would be spending Christmas Day alone, Amy organised a festive meal to bring them together. The overwhelming response inspired the creation of Marmalade Trust, which has since supported thousands of people experiencing loneliness and social isolation.
Understanding Loneliness
Loneliness is a natural human emotion that can affect anyone, regardless of age, background, or circumstance. While many people experience loneliness at some point in their lives, prolonged loneliness can have a significant impact on both physical and mental wellbeing. Marmalade Trust works to challenge the stigma surrounding loneliness and encourages open conversations about a feeling that is often misunderstood.
People may experience loneliness for many reasons, including:
- Bereavement or loss of a loved one
- Retirement or major life transitions
- Living alone
- Poor physical or mental health
- Moving to a new area
- Changes in family or social relationships
By increasing awareness and providing practical support, Marmalade Trust helps people understand that loneliness is something many of us experience and that support is available.
How Marmalade Trust Supports Communities
Marmalade Trust tackles loneliness through a combination of direct support projects, awareness campaigns, education, and volunteer engagement. Their work includes:
- Marmalade Connections, a volunteer-led project supporting older people to build confidence, discover local activities, and develop new friendships.
- Christmas Cheer, an annual initiative that brings companionship, festive meals, and community spirit to people who would otherwise spend Christmas Day alone.
- Loneliness Awareness Week, a global campaign created by Marmalade Trust that encourages people to talk about loneliness and build stronger social connections. The campaign now reaches millions of people worldwide.
- Information and Resources, practical guides, workshops, and educational materials that help individuals, schools, workplaces, and communities better understand loneliness.
- Corporate Training, accredited workplace training that helps organisations create more connected and supportive environments.
The charity's approach combines local, hands-on support with national awareness work, helping to create lasting change both for individuals and society as a whole.
Why We Chose Marmalade Trust
Loneliness is a topic that feels particularly close to home for us. Like many people, we have seen first-hand how loneliness can affect family members across different generations. Our grandparents and parents have all experienced periods of loneliness, whether through life changes, retirement, loss, or simply finding it harder to maintain social connections as circumstances change.
It is also a subject that comes up regularly in conversations with our friends. Despite being more connected than ever through technology, many people still experience feelings of loneliness and isolation. These conversations have highlighted just how widespread the issue is and how important it is that people have access to support, understanding, and opportunities to connect with others.
For some time, we have wanted to support a charity working in this space, and Marmalade Trust stood out because of its proactive and compassionate approach. Through its community projects, awareness campaigns, and efforts to reduce the stigma surrounding loneliness, the charity is helping people feel less alone and creating meaningful opportunities for connection.
Their work aligns strongly with Impact Q's mission to support charities that make a tangible difference in people's everyday lives. We are proud to support Marmalade Trust and help raise awareness of an issue that affects so many people, often in ways that remain unseen.
Read more about them on their website: www.marmaladetrust.org
