One thing that struck me in my first couple of years as your MP is that no matter who I was visiting – whether I was at a school, community group, or speaking to the police – the human cost of loneliness came up time and time again. We may not always realise it, but the strength of our relationships sit at the heart of what makes us happy and well – and when people feel that they have lost those support networks, it becomes all too easy for them to fall through the cracks.
That’s why, in 2022, I launched The Friendship Project, to support the many wonderful community groups in East Surrey who tackle loneliness by creating friendships. In 2023, I was able to raise £8,825 to support these groups do what they do best, and starting this year, cash grants of up to £1,300 will start to land in their bank accounts to help them carry on their magnificent work.
