Christmas Together: a virtual Christmas Lunch for everyone to tackle social isolation at Christmas
- Recent statistics confirm that social isolation during the pandemic has affected 30.9% (7.4 million adults) of the population in Great Britain, as well-being had been impacted through feeling lonely in the past seven days. Also, 5% of the national population (2.6 million adults) have experienced a sense of loneliness "often" or "always".
- Together TV launches Christmas Together, the campaign to tackle loneliness at Christmas that includes a festive “journey” and a virtual Christmas Lunch. Free and open to for everyone, from everywhere in the UK.
- Together TV celebrates tireless work of mutual aid community heroes this Christmas with award winning Director Thomas Martin filming across the UK
- The TV channel joins Jo Cox Foundation’s campaign Great Winter Get Together to tackle loneliness at Christmas
London, December 2020 – Christmas will be different this year. Whilst many might be not be allowed to meet with families and friends, Together TV, leading TV broadcaster for positive change and the world’s only supporter-owned national TV channel, invites everyone to join their Christmas Lunch for a digital and TV event titled Christmas Together, a one-hour TV show with beloved guests and help make the audience feel connected at Christmas.
Having supported directly amazing neighbourhood-based hubs since the first lockdown, Together TV has been gathering some remarkable stories by filming their activities in six different locations across the UK. Award-winning Director Thomas Martin has been filming several case studies in Leicester, London, Kent, Barry (in Wales) and more, to celebrate the great work that has been carried out at local neighbourhood level to support vulnerable people and those who have been struggling with the lockdowns.
From the 14th December until Monday the 18th January (the so called “Blue Monday” and Together TV’s channel anniversary), Together TV joins Great Winter Get Together, an initiative of the Jo Cox Foundation, to face loneliness together by building connections using its most inspiring content around gardening, crafting, DIY, outdoors and other topics to be carried during the festive period to stay connected, active, and happy. And among those who will be spending Christmas on their own, Together TV is preparing to send out 50 Christmas in a Box hampers too, to help with some Christmas cheer.
Over 9 million people in the UK say they are always or often lonely. The Covid-19 pandemic, during which everyone experienced at least some degree of separation from their family, friends and colleagues, has brought the issue of loneliness into sharp relief. (Office for National Statistics, June 2020)
As depicted in a recent report by Campaign to End Loneliness “The narrative of lockdown loneliness featured heavily, and many community groups, including hastily formed mutual aid groups operating at neighbourhood levels, came together to think about how to offer some contact to people who might otherwise have none.”
The pandemic has harmed the mental health of millions across the UK (source: British Red Cross, Nuffield). With timely content that encourages people to get involved in topics and campaigns that offer relevant, practical and achievable things to do, the channel promotes healthier lifestyles, improved mental wellbeing and increased social connections.
Alexander Kann, CEO of Together TV said: “As the leading TV channel for inspiring positive change, we knew we had to do something about the social isolation striking at Christmas. So, we have done what we are good at: bringing people together, from inspiring guests and experts to create something able to make a difference in people’s lives over the festive period”.
Together TV has been helping viewers develop their interests in meaningful activities and social change through its programmes that show real-life examples, activities and issues that prompt participation in campaigns and social causes.
A recent national Opinium survey confirmed that Together TV helps viewers learn something new (34%), think differently (31%) and take up a new action or interest (26%). Research was conducted by Opinium among a nationally representative sample of 2000 UK adults (18+) between 9th – 13th October 2020.
In March 2020, at the start of the UK lockdown, Together TV launched the “You are Not Alone” campaign to support self-isolating people across the UK. The TV channel launched a Help Line to support people by connecting them to their nearest Mutual Aid group. As a result, Together TV has actively helped thousands of vulnerable people with hundreds phoning in and over 20,000 people checking its online resources.
Together TV is on Freeview 87, Sky 170, Virgin 269 and Freesat 164, along with being on-demand on My5 and social videos on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and DailyMotion.
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For further information, photos, videos or an interview with a spokesperson, please contact:
Francesca Aita
Head of Marketing, Together TV
07482 251 330
Notes to Editors
About Together TV
Together TV is the UK’s broadcaster inspiring positive change. We run a national TV channel and digital platform which inspire people to do good in their lives and communities.
We programme entertaining shows that focus on wellbeing and creativity and we champion diverse voices while highlighting the great work of the charitable and voluntary sector. In doing so, we open our audience’s eyes to the opportunities around them and motivate them to take part.
As a result of watching, our viewers change attitudes, gain confidence and do more for themselves and their community, from volunteering for a charity to getting involved in a creative project or fundraising for a cause close to their heart and to getting help and support. Our vision is a world where people and their communities thrive together.
Together TV broadcasts on Freeview 87, Sky 170, Virgin 269 and Freesat 164, and is available on-demand through www.togethertv.com, Daily Motion, YouTube, Facebook and My5.
Together TV is owned by over two hundred individual shareholders with a wider group of funders and donors alongside the media and digital industry.
It is a charitable Community Benefit Society and its board includes representatives from the broadcasters and charity sector alongside elected Members.
The Community Channel operating as Together TV is a charitable Community Benefit Society registered with the FCA (RS007400).
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