Our Social Space Ltd

Public benefits

Social isolation is recognised as having a negative impact on both physical and mental health. The benefits from our charitable purpose which flows from the advancement of health includes raising awareness on physical, mental benefits of improving social health and providing opportunities for local communities to socially interact and build

relationships to reduce social isolation and its associated stigma. Ballynafeigh is a community with a uniquely high number of single, working aged men living alone who are either economically inactive or face job security uncertainty with significantly lower levels of social capacity activity than across NI as a whole – key predictive risk facts for social isolation and suicide. The benefits which flows from the advancement of citizenship or community development are creating opportunities for people to connect through social events or volunteering designed to build a sense of community and social inclusion and increase levels of social capital. 1 in 5 people in Northern Ireland report feeling lonely, with loneliness higher in urban areas at 40%. The benefits which flows from providing local recreational/ leisure facilities and removing barriers for engaging in social activities or connections are for individuals to look after their own mental health and social interaction thereby reducing loneliness. NI Department of Health Mental Health Strategy states “loneliness both a cause and contributor to depression and can lead to increased mortality”. It also recognises as a society we need to provide opportunities for individuals and communities to look after their own emotional wellbeing and mental health, opportunities for leisure activity, social interaction and volunteering opportunities to tackle loneliness. Low levels of social capacity activity within our local community was found through research by Queens University Belfast and NI Housing Executive. Social capital increases the confidence and capacity of individuals to get involved in activities and build mutually supportive networks that holds community together. Our charity will demonstrate our benefits through feedback and regular evaluation of our services. Our charity has identified no harm arising from any of our purposes. Our charity's beneficiaries are adults from the Ballynafeigh/Ormeau community, from the older residents who are more likely to participate in locally based voluntarism, to the lone parents and the newer more socially isolated single male population. There is no known private benefit flowing from any of our charity's purposes.

What your organisation does

Our Social Space mission is to create space for social connections to thrive within local communities and neighbourhoods. With a vision is that no one feels lonely or socially isolated, our aim is to give the opportunity for growing social networks simpler – offering a relaxed environment for low/no cost social activities.