Designing Communities to Tackle Loneliness: The ‘Little BIG Foundation’
By: Helping Hands TV
Michael Easson believes that everyone is important.
As Chairman of EG, an Australian company building homes for everyday Australians, his belief of engaging and respecting every person is built into the homes and communities EG creates.
Their unique approach is to Build In Good; to create a legacy of positive impact that goes beyond good business.
It’s the reason they’ve set up the ‘Little BIG Foundation’ – established to tackle loneliness in Australia by developing places, programs and events for social connection. It’s the reason why places like EG’s Summer Hill apartment and community complex is a healthier, happier and kinder place to live.
In this episode of Helping Hands, we see the Little BIG Foundation’s Little BIG House in action and how it is breaking through the barriers of loneliness and isolation, and creating deep and meaningful community connections.
“The Little BIG House is our neighbourhood hub,” says Sarah Mathews, CEO of the Little BIG Foundation. “It’s a place where people come together. We have ninety events a month – everything from board games groups, to singing circles, to stock and property investing meet ups and beer tasting. Everything is around creating connection and meeting your neighbours and bringing people together.”
The Little BIG House is currently home to activities run by fifty-two volunteers and community hosts. Anyone who lives nearby is welcome to apply to use the space and transform an idea which brings people together into an opportunity to foster community using the Little BIG House.
“It feels like an extended family – like a warm hug,” says Wei Yee, who hosts a weekly Yoga group. “To be in a big city and so close to the city centre and have this sort of tight knit community feel, which you might get often in a smaller country community, that’s really special to us.”
1 in 3 Aussies Are Lonely
“One in three Australians experience loneliness on a regular basis,” says Sarah. “And 22% of millennials don’t have a single friend and have an immediate need to connect and seek support.”
These are statistics that EG and the Little BIG Foundation are turning around. At the Little BIG House, everyone is welcomed. Everyone can find a place to belong, and everyone can find connection and community.
The style of connection encouraged and facilitated at the Little BIG House is intentional by design. Sarah says that the healthiest connections grow when community happens in small-sized, frequent and regular meetings.
“It’s just this sense of community,” says Kerrie Bush, who coordinates a Seniors Group each week at one of the complex’s two cafes. “I’ve noticed there’s a lot more kindness among the people who live here.”Alan Earls is passionate to support the community following his own experience of homelessness and isolation. He now hosts ‘Safe Space’ at the Little BIG House – a drop-in program for anyone feeling at risk of loneliness, depression or suicide.
Moving to Australia from Ireland in the early 2000s, Alan says he was fortunate to find the Little BIG House.
“The last couple of years I’ve found I’ve got such a bigger community, it’s a new community for me. In the nineteen years I’ve been in Australia, I’ve never felt more connected.”
See the LITTLE BIG FOUNDATION story and the full catalogue of Helping Hands documentaries at helpinghands.tv. Catch up on full episodes of Helping Hands on 9NOW.
Article supplied with thanks to Helping Hands TV.
Feature image: Screenshot, Helping Hands TV, used with permission
About the Author: Helping Hands is an Australian produced TV program that airs on 9GEM, Channel 9 and 9NOW, and showcases people and organisations who make the world a better place.
