Title: The Scunthorpe Lovely Ladies: Fostering Community Connections in Lincolnshire
Twelve months ago, Laura Cooper of Scunthorpe confronted her feelings of solitude by creating a social group. Almost instantaneously, her initiative struck a chord, generating more than a hundred responses in the immediate hours following her social media announcement. Today, the ‘Scunthorpe Lovely Ladies’ boasts 926 participants, who hail from not only the local region but as far afield as France and Guyana.
Having moved houses and overcome illness, Laura found herself feeling secluded, a predicament that inspired her to form the friendship group – a transformational project for her and countless others. “The experience has been phenomenal, and life-altering,” she relayed, “My confidence has been restored and I feel empowered.”
Regular gatherings, like those at the Priory pub in Scunthorpe, are a key feature of the group, fostering an environment of warmth and camaraderie. For some, like Lucy Robinson, coping with the loss of her family was made easier by finding comfort and forming new relationships within the group. She credits the group for reviving her spirits and fostering a sense of inclusion and purpose.
Functionally, the group operates without any subscription fees, depending instead on member contributions towards events and activities – these range from their forthcoming Christmas party to group outings to places like Cleethorpes. Other group initiatives include a Christmas card writing evening, helmed by Monika Lear, while Rosie Cook admires the collective’s supportive atmosphere, citing the positive impact it’s had on her mental wellbeing.
Laura’s aspiration is for the group to continue in its expansion, extending a helping hand to every solitary and secluded woman throughout the district. With the rallying support of members such as Marjory Dunning, the ‘Scunthorpe Lovely Ladies’ show no signs of slowing down in their mission to cultivate a thriving sense of community spirit and belonging within Lincolnshire.
This account has been revised for our readership by The Lincoln Post, following the original report from www.bbc.com.
