SOCIAL health is inextricably linked with physical and mental health, a charity chief executive has said.
North Belfast woman Carrie Montgomery is Our Social Space’s chief executive, project coordinator and dance instructor.
The charity was founded in 2018 to promote relationships, belonging and shared experiences that support wellbeing so people feel connected, valued, and part of something larger than themselves.
“As humans we yearn social connection and a sense of belonging,” said Carrie. “We don’t do that well if we don’t have a sense of belonging and purpose, and opportunity for social connections.”
The Parkgate Avenue based organisation, which draws people from across the North, builds social connections and reduces loneliness through inclusive social dance, community cinema, gardening, and volunteering.
Over 20 years ago Carrie helped develop and lead the Lifeline crisis response helpline service.
Off the back of her learning with Lifeline she identified the need to ‘create space for social connections’, and Our Social Space was born.
“From my learning with the Lifeline service I thought something was needed beyond a crisis counselling service.
“I had noticed men in particular were coming back after they had received support and were out of crisis. They were asking how they could help.
“Really what they were saying was ‘you helped me during a difficult time in my life and I kind of like being around you so I want to continue a connection in some way’.”
From Carrie’s work in suicide prevention she knew social isolation was one of the key risk factors which could be influenced in some way.
Carrie Montgomery
“The interesting thing for me was when starting Our Social Space, and I have worked in mental health for 20 years, so I was working during a time when mental health was very expecting was that social health was going to be just as stigmatised.
“For example, when I started explaining the charity was to tackle social isolation and loneliness, there was a lot of stigma and prejudice around this I really wasn’t expecting.
“People were almost talking about it in ways that looked like this was a personality problem, the stereotypical very derogatory terms like ‘loners’, that people had an inability to make friends.
“The reality is, and I think strangely the pandemic helped a lot with this, it made people realise an ordinary change in life circumstances can effect anybody.”
Adults of any age can engage with Our Social Space activities, make friendships and have a nice time through chat, music, film, at social dance classes, the upcoming Black Mountain Blues Festival in October, and more.
For more information visit https://oursocialspace.org.uk
