Transport to tackle loneliness in the West Midlands
'Let's Chat' is a new funded scheme, where mini buses will travel around to help end isolation.
Last updated 22nd Dec 2022
A new scheme in the West Midlands has launched to help tackle loneliness through transport.
It's called 'Let's Chat' and is a group of mini-buses that travel around communities to offer people a safe space to chat and have a cuppa.
They'll also be offering vital support services for people who take part.
Over three million people across Britain have described themselves as chronically lonely in 2022. That's equal to the population of the West Midlands.
It's being funded by a £460,000 grant from the Department for Transport.
The places the buses will be available are Walsall, Wolverhampton, South Birmingham, North East Birmingham, Sandwell, Dudley and Coventry.
Since launching, the service has reached over 100 residents aged 26 to 99 with a range of issues like energy bills, foodbanks and mental health.
In 2023, the service is hoping to expand and be established in bus stations in Coventry, Dudley, Walsall, and West Bromwich.
West Midlands Mayor, Andy Street, visited one of the mini-buses and said: “Any steps we can take to tackle loneliness and isolation in our communities – especially at Christmas time – is very welcome indeed.
“The pilot Let’s Chat scheme has been hugely successful and that’s why I’m so pleased to see it not only continue but also now extended into other parts of the West Midlands. Our public transport network plays a vital role in connecting local people right across our region and now alongside our partners we’ve found another way it can connect locals.”
More information about Let's Chat can be found here.