Feed the Birds is a nature-focused befriending programme aimed at people over 18 experiencing loneliness or social isolation across Shropshire. Trained volunteers visit once a week to provide and maintain a bird feeding station and to chat with their client. Winter is a time when both our potential clients and our garden birds are most in need of support; as daylight hours diminish and the Christmas season approaches, people already lonely can feel even more isolated. This new campaign aims to bring the proven benefits of befriending, coupled with positive effects of connecting with nature, to new clients particularly at risk this winter. We will deliver a marketing campaign, highlighting the effects of social isolation and loneliness and the increased pressure the festive season can bring. Birds are also in need of our support in the winter and connecting our clients to nature through the simple process of feeding their garden birds can greatly reduce depression, anxiety and stress.

What we'll deliver:

• A marketing campaign: Birds and befriending to beat the winter blues
• Identify 15 new clients experiencing loneliness or social isolation
• A Feed the Birds project lead
• Weekly visits to new clients by their own trained, DBS checked volunteer
• Bird feeding stations, maintained and topped up weekly with bird food

Why it's a great idea:

Social isolation and loneliness have serious health consequences, including up to 50% increase in risk of dementia and 30% increase in risk of stroke and cardiovascular disease. Weekly visits by Feed the Birds volunteers have been shown to reduce loneliness and increase the wellbeing of the people it supports. Feed the Birds delivers proven economic, health and social benefits, resulting in healthy people, help for the economy and healthy partnerships. This new campaign aims to extend this success to at least 15 new clients over winter and the festive season, a time when the feelings of loneliness and isolation are often exacerbated. Connecting with nature also benefits mental and physical wellbeing: studies show that birds and nature can reduce depression, anxiety and stress. At a time of year when both birds, and people experiencing loneliness, are most in need, Feed the Birds aims to launch this new winter initiative to recruit new clients most at risk across Shropshire.

Steps to get it done:

• Appoint project lead
• Develop and deliver new winter marketing campaign
• Identify 15 new clients
• Match clients with volunteers
• Purchase bird food and feeders
• Promote Feed the Birds to referrers

Feed the Birds recruits, trains and DBS checks volunteers and carefully matches them with someone in their community who is lonely or socially isolated. Clients may be experiencing ill health, including dementia, and find it difficult to get out and meet people. Feed the Birds has developed strong partnerships with those who refer clients, including GPs, social prescribers, friends or family, and care services. Volunteers visit once a week to provide and maintain a bird feeding station and chat with their client. The same volunteer visits the same client so people always feel comfortable. Feed the birds was founded in 2016 by Shropshire Wildlife Trust. In May 2024 we became a separate charity, supported by Iolo Williams, naturalist, TV presenter, speaker and author. Feed the Birds currently has 53 volunteers and 28 clients. In order to expand this much-loved scheme, we aim to identify at least 15 new clients during what can feel like a particularly lonely time of year.