Council and partners 'Come Together' to tackle isolation

Article date: 24 June 2025

The Commission was created in 2021 to understand the difficulties faced by St Helens residents, to give communities a voice, and provide support to those in the borough who need it the most.  It is made up of partners from St Helens Borough Council, the NHS, and members of the voluntary sector who play a key role in the St Helens community.

The Inequalities Commission, with support from the Institute of Voluntary Action Research, has recently put on a series of workshops around reducing social isolation, loneliness and stigma. The latest event highlighted the fact that in 2021, 11 per cent of people in St Helens felt lonely often or always, compared to 7 per cent across England. The workshop asked community partners to commit to making a change in the way that they work, making sure that they reach out and connect with everyone in St Helens who wants and needs support.

Two community services that are making a real difference to residents' lives were featured at the event, and both challenged the council and partners to make those changes. The first was the Hope Centre, which provides practical support and advice to people at risk or experiencing homelessness. The second was the Come Together Hub, a service which supports isolated residents to connect with others and access support services more easily.

Founded in August 2021 by St Helens resident Mat Molyneux, having spent many years struggling with addiction problems, homelessness, and poor mental health himself - Come Together runs 11 different groups across the borough, supporting around 100 people a week - with activities including football, boxing, gardening and media classes.

Mat said: "It's easy when you're struggling with isolation, addiction or mental health to fall into the idea that there's no help available but there are people out there who have gone through the same thing and are eager to help.

"We were really happy to be recognised by the council as a lived experience recovery organisation. We had a couple of chats with people from the council who championed what we were doing in the community.

"They helped us to see that there was a need for it and being commissioned has helped to maintain what we were offering because it was a struggle having to balance work as well as running the group. It's been a vital support for us having the backing of the council."

Richard Rudin, 68, a retired university journalism lecturer who lives near Rainford, was put in touch with Come Together by his healthcare navigator after being discharged from hospital. Richard had experienced mental health struggles that rocked his confidence, leaving him isolated, but today he attends a weekly media class, chatty café, reading groups, and is applying to become a prison visitor and reading hero.

Richard said: "I was in and out of hospital for the best part of five-years and the extent of my depression meant I wasn't taking any interest in what was happening in the world, but discovering Come Together has changed my life. As soon as I stepped through the door, I knew I was going to fit in and was made to feel very welcome.

"There are all sorts of greats things going on at the Come Together hub - something for everybody to enjoy. You'll always receive a warm welcome - nobody judges you. It's like we're all the same but we're all different. We're all facing the same issues but have taken a different route to get to them."

Praising the impact of the Inequalities Commission, St Helens Borough Council's Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care & Health, Councillor Andy Bowden, said: "The Inequalities Commission is a powerful example of what can be achieved when local organisations unite with a shared purpose — to tackle deep-rooted challenges in our communities.

 "By bringing together public health, social care, and our voluntary and community partners, we're creating the conditions for truly person-centred support. Come Together is a brilliant example of that vision in action — a service built on lived experience that is changing lives and reconnecting people across the borough. As a council, we're working with you - for you, and initiatives like this show the impact of that partnership."

In 2023, St Helens Inequalities Commission won an award for 'A Whole Council Approach to Tackling Health Inequalities' at the coveted The MJ Awards which honours outstanding achievements in local government.

If you are feeling lonely and isolated in St Helens, support is available throughout the St Helens community. To find something that's right for you, please visit: Home | The Live Well Directory for Liverpool City Region

For more information on Come Together, visit: www.cometogetherhub.com

For more information on the Hope Centre, visit: www.hopecentre.org.uk/