Schoten, Stabroek and Wommelgem also join the fight against loneliness: action plan for family care services and two thousand Christmas cards (Wommelgem)

The municipalities of Schoten, Stabroek and Wommelgem join forces against loneliness just before the Christmas holidays. The local authorities will actively help the family care services in their territory to concretely tackle the problem that the Warmest Week is also committed to tackling this year.

The three municipalities in question do not normally work together often, but for this occasion Kelly Joris (Local Liberal – Wommelgem), Iefke Hendrickx (N-VA – Schoten) and Rik Frans (N-VA – Stabroek) – represented by welfare official Sabine Theunis – they officially launched the charter ‘Together against loneliness’.

In Flanders, one in two people sometimes feels lonely. A problem that mainly affects vulnerable groups such as clients of family care services. Since the beginning of 2024, the three municipalities have been working together through the Intermunicipal Health Prevention Program (IGP) to tackle this problem.

“Loneliness is an important point of attention that we as local government continuously consider. By signing the charter ‘Together against loneliness’ we make this even more visible and continue to attract everyone’s attention. Together we make a difference,” says Kelly Joris, alderman for Social Policy in Wommelgem.

Two thousand Christmas cards

The three local authorities and involved family care services met on Monday in Schoten Castle and looked back on a number of initiatives taken, such as the three Warmest Tables, two webinars on the theme of loneliness, the 146 caregivers who followed physical training on loneliness, a lecture in the library around loneliness and almost two thousand Christmas cards with a warm connecting message that were distributed.

Annelies Matthé, Intermunicipal Health Prevention Officer, is in charge. “The family care services on the territory of the municipalities involved now also confirm their commitment to tackle loneliness among their clients. In addition, we have looked ahead to new actions from the IGP activities in 2025. The focus remains on strengthening social contacts and offering support to people who feel lonely,” says Matthé.