In pics: Co-op and the Red Cross team up to tackle loneliness in Scotland

LITTLE RED WEEK (March 6th – 12th) saw the Co-op and the Red Cross come together to fundraise for their campaign to tackle loneliness.

The campaign has seen some very creative fundraising ideas – there’s been hill walks, sponsored silences, exercise bikes and treadmills being used in-store, leg waxing, dressing up and more!

LRW - Nairn — Nairn – Staff from the Co-op and Red Cross shops come together

John McNeill, Divisional Managing Director for Co-op, said: “Loneliness and social isolation pose a real threat to the wellbeing of many Scots – whether they are a new parent with a young baby, someone who may be recently divorced or bereaved, or an elderly person with mobility issues.”

LRW - Thurston Rd — Little Red Week – a guessing game at the Thurston Rd store

Colleagues really got into the spirit of the campaign, with some stores smashing their targets only two days into the week.

LRW - Kennoway — Little Red Week – Kennoway

It’s hoped that the funds raised this week will boost the total raised to £5million – well ahead of the partnership’s initial target of £3.5m.

LRW - Kirkcaldy — On your bike! Getting activie for Little Red Week in Kirkcaldy

In 2015 the Co-op and the British Red Cross launched a two year partnership to highlight and tackle loneliness and social isolation across the UK. Loneliness is a massive, increasing yet under-recognised crisis, impacting millions of people in our society – shortening lives and eroding health and wellbeing

LRW - Cupar — There were some fun costumes at the Cupar Co-op

The money raised is being used by the Red Cross to set up new services in the summer in Dundee, Fife, Aberdeen and Brae in Shetland. The new services will be set up in 38 locations across the UK.

LRW - Auchtermuchty — A sweet display at the Auchtermuchty store.

Red Cross research from December 2016 showed that almost one fifth (18 per cent) of the population of Scotland are always or often lonely, with 80 per cent having experienced loneliness at some point in their lives.

The partnership is responding with new community connector and support at home services funded by Co-op to provide vital support to 1400 adults suffering from loneliness in Scotland

The Red Cross are calling for volunteers to help us for around two hours a week in Dundee, Fife, Aberdeen and Brae in Shetland.