Twenty-five million people in England feel lonely. That’s according to the Campaign to End Loneliness, which reports that 45% of adults in England feel occasionally, sometimes, or often lonely. Even before the pandemic, loneliness was an issue. A quarter calling the Samaritans mentioned it; the number increased to a third during the pandemic.
Loneliness can lead to, or exacerbate, a range of other issues. There are links between loneliness and cognitive decline, anxiety, depression, psychosis and many other conditions.
It’s a message that the team at Quintain Living – the award-winning management company overseeing the rental of more than 3,250 apartments in Wembley Park – fully supports.
“Loneliness isn’t about the number of people around you. It’s about a lack of opportunities for connection – meaningful connection – with those with whom you share some kind of common bond. By finding people who share your interests, your views or your values, it’s possible to combat the negative effects of loneliness,” said Danielle Bayless, chief operating officer at Quintain Living.
Quintain Living takes an active approach to combatting loneliness. Already this year, the resident team has arranged more than a dozen community events, designed to support residents to engage with one another over common interests.
For the artistically minded, Quintain Living runs a popular ‘paint and prosecco’ art club, while younger creative types are welcomed to the children’s art club held on the rooftop of the serene and stylish Alameda apartment building in the heart of Wembley Park. The same rooftop also hosts film nights every Monday. There’s a cooking club in partnership with Bread Ahead Wembley Park, along with Zumba classes, spin classes and outdoor HIIT classes for those looking to exercise and have fun.
Sustainability-focused activities have included an upcycling event and an allotment event at Canada Gardens, to encourage families to grow their own vegetables. The allotments provide plenty of opportunity for connection, with residents coming together to share growing tips as well as helping to water each other’s plants during holidays.
Other activities have ranged from a summer solstice neighbour meet and greet, to sessions on fixing your bicycle. The latest event – a new volunteering group – meets for the first time during Loneliness Awareness Week, with volunteers set to build planters for a local community-run edible garden in connection with a Brent food bank organisation.
Quintain Living in Wembley
“Here at Quintain Living we put our residents at the heart of our community, providing them with opportunities to connect with one another and to form friendships,” added Danielle Bayless.
The social spaces in Quintain Living’s buildings also serve to combat loneliness. At Canada Gardens, for example, youngsters can bond in the pirate ship playpark or the magical indoor ‘Emily’s Playhouse’, while dog owners can enjoy a natter at the dedicated ‘bark park’. All apartments are pet-friendly, so that furry companions can play their part in fighting loneliness too. In the acre of podium gardens, places to cook and eat promote socialisation on sunny days, while the clubhouse offers the perfect retreat when the weather is less kind.
Over at The Robinson, where the bold and eclectic apartments have struck a chord with students and recent graduates, the social spaces are key spots for residents to come together and connect. According to the Higher Education Policy Institute, nearly one in four students are lonely most or all of the time.
The Robinson – one of ten Quintain Living apartment blocks – does much to combat that, with a vast residents’ lounge connected by a seven-metre slide to a stunning roof terrace. There’s a spa caravan and a Festival Garden that incorporates a John Lennon-inspired Peace Garden, a Mad Hatter’s Tea Party Garden and a bark parka. There’s even a work-from-home community on the 14th floor rooftop, with three bespoke campervans to work in, clustered around a lawned area with picnic tables, benches and deckchairs to socialise in. Every element of the quirky design promotes interaction, encouraging residents to engage with their home and with one another.
Build to Rent homes are in a unique position to address post-pandemic loneliness. From the community vibe to the friendly faces of the concierge and helpful resident team to the social spaces and events, there are myriad opportunities to make connections and become a part of something.
The Quintain Living Residents’ App provides a further opportunity for residents to connect. As well as booking events, residents can access a number of private groups. There’s a film club, a parent and baby group, an allotment group, a book club with 1,500 members and much more.
The wider Wembley Park neighbourhood also promotes neighbourly interaction. The Yellow is a popular community hub that hosts everything from parent/toddler sessions to fitness classes. Running clubs, an art trail, regular free live music events from April to September… there’s something to suit every taste, the vast majority of activities are entirely free and the rest at a low cost.
Find out more at www.quintainliving.com.