Our Board of Trustees

Here are few words from a selection of Age UK Wakefield District's Board of Trustees...

Bill Barker - Chair of Trustees

Andrea Woofindin - Treasurer

Jo Beaumont

John Rouse

And we welcome to our Board of Trustees, our newest member - Dr Richard Sloan

Richard has kindly given us his thoughts on Loneliness and Social Isolation to share with you all.

Am I socially isolated and/or lonely?

I am 74 and have lived alone since my wife died over 5 years ago.  We were not blessed with children.  I am an only child but had 3 half siblings and therefore have an extended family.  Of course, I was lost in bereavement after my wife’s death.  However, for the recent past years I have not felt at all lonely and have been OK with self imposed strict social isolation for the first phase of the pandemic lockdown.  I did not meet anyone face to face for about 8 weeks, apart from the food and Amazon deliverers.

I should feel lonely and socially isolated but I don’t.

I have been reflecting on why I feel a very fortunate person and am perfectly content with my life as it is now.  This reflection has allowed me to understand people I know who do feel lonely and/or socially isolated.  I worked in Airedale, Castleford as a GP and have seen deprivation, loneliness, poverty, social isolation, etc. at its rawest.  The general practice where I worked deals with the most deprived people in the Wakefield district and always has.

I had a middle class childhood, good education and a happy marriage.  I am financially comfortable and always have been.  I have a large garden and can exercise there.  I enjoy driving, travel, classical music, the arts, watching the TV, reading, singing in a choir, voluntary work, writing and cooking  I am a practicing Roman Catholic . I have lots of friends.

My relationship with each of the list above is enhanced by my education but also my IT skills and familiarity with the internet.  I know how it must feel to have none of that list or maybe only the television.

I use the social media:  Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.  Through these I am in touch with 16 of my relations who live all over the UK and abroad as well as many friends, ex patients and colleagues.

I really believe there is a great need for people feeling lonely or socially isolated being helped to use the internet.  The internet opens a world of friendships, knowledge, entertainment, humour and peace. Use of the internet will be part of the “new normal”.  In the not too distant future, the choice of a care home will be like choosing a hotel.  I would not use a hotel that does not have free internet connection for all.

I know several people older than I who have learned how to use emails and Facebook.

Age UK WD will be undertaking a project in helping clients familiarize with the internet . I am looking forward to hearing how this project develops.

Dr Richard Sloan - Trustee
Age UK Wakefield District