Edith Thomas: “I was really glad when I had that phone call from Wigan Athletic Community Trust, it was a real lifeline for me.”

For many people in the local community, the COVID-19 pandemic has meant they have become even more isolated.

But thanks to funding from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and EFL Trust in June, Wigan Athletic Community Trust have been able to provide much needed support for those at risk of isolation through the Tackling Loneliness Together project.

One person who has benefitted is 86-year old Edith Thomas whose experience of lockdown has proved a difficult time with no close family living nearby and restrictions preventing her from going out and enjoying her usual day to day life.

But, after being contacted by the Community Trust in October, she now enjoys regular communication with staff through garden gate visits and online coffee mornings.

She said:

‘Lockdown has been awful because I’ve always been used to going out and now I can’t go out at all. I’ve got nobody to go out with and I don’t even go out for a walk to the top of the street. I’ve stopped all my activities and I don’t go shopping anymore. I did sit at the front of the house in the summer which I obviously can’t do at the moment. I just got fed up of it. When the hour goes back in October I’m always down because I know its going to be dark. “It’s so dull outside and having no family close by I don’t see anybody at all.”

So far Latics have made over 1000 phone calls and hundreds of garden gate visits through the programme to keep those at risk of loneliness connected to their communities, and for Edith a phone call provided her with a much-needed lifeline, she explains,

“I just couldn’t cope with it so I rang the doctor and they contacted me on the Monday and then by the Tuesday I had a call from the Community Trust. I was really glad when I had that phone call, it was a real lifeline for me” .

Now Edith is a regular attendee to the Trust’s weekly virtual coffee mornings and something she looks forward to. she adds

“I like joining the Zoom sessions, it’s made a big difference as when I wake up on a Tuesday, instead of thinking I’ve got nothing to do I know I can do my jobs and join the Zoom session at 11am.It makes the day go quicker as every day seems a long time when you live on your own.”

During the festive time, the Trust are delivering Christmas support packages to people at risk of isolation as part of the Tackling Loneliness Together programme and are calling on a contribution of £5 from Latics supporters to significantly help the cause and ensure more deliveries to people over the festive period.

Donations from supporters will assist the Trust in providing a number of items within bags including Christmas puddings, crafts and other festive gifts. To make a donation to the appeal, you can do so by heading to Wigan Athletic Community Trust’s Just Giving page here.