Haringey Loneliness Awareness Week Awards 2026

The awards recognise groups, organisations and individuals who contribute to tackling loneliness and social isolation in Haringey through their compassion, innovations, support and outreach.

Each year the focus is on a particular type of support, which for this year is support for people living with dementia and their carers by building positive social connections and reducing loneliness.

10 groups and individuals have been nominated and chosen to receive an award. They are:

Café Palais at Alexandra Palace for their free 1920s café concept and monthly event with artistic activities and refreshments for older people, people living with dementia, and their carers.

Cypriot Centre Dementia Friendly Groups for providing the opportunity for people living with dementia to engage socially with others in a supportive and friendly environment.

Hilldene Court Memory Café for their relaxed, comfortable, social gathering, that enables people experiencing memory loss, their loved ones and carers, to connect, socialise and get together.

Home Instead for their ‘Cup Full of Memories’ café for older adults, including those living with dementia, offering a relaxed and friendly environment for sharing stories, meeting new people, or enjoying a quiet cup of tea.

Kissing it Better Calendar and Online Carers Events for their bi-monthly digital and printed calendar (with over 100 regular activities for residents age 55+), their twice weekly online carers groups, and face to face visits with elderly patients at Whittington Hospital.

Park Theatre Dementia Friendly Programme for the welcome, connection, activities and joy they provide for people living with dementia and their companions.

Sensing A Place - Hands on Heritage for People Living with Dementia for their interactive sessions with reminiscence and group discussion on familiar topics that spark conversation.

Singing for the Brain for bringing people affected by dementia together to enjoy singing songs they may know and love, in a fun, friendly and social environment.

Ted Meyer for his dedication and commitment to visiting patients and performing for them. His commitment and compassion are greatly appreciated by hospital patients, their families, and staff.

The Unpaid Carer Shanty Crew (North London) – An unpaid carers group who change the words of sea shanties to reflect their experiences as carers. Their aim is to encourage a network of unpaid carer shanty crews across the UK to gather and renew words to reflect their own experiences.

The awards will be presented at a ceremony and launch event for Loneliness Awareness Week on Monday 15th June at 12 noon at Transmitter Hall, Alexandra Palace, N22 7AY.

The week of activities will highlight the importance of talking about loneliness, reducing the stigma that surrounds it, and will encourage people to support each other.

Community Connector Ashley Grey from Haringey Reach and Connect is leading the event in collaboration with Alexandra Palace’s Cafe Palais.

Please note that while the awards ceremony is by invitation only there are lots of activities around the borough, both during the week and ongoing, which are open to everyone to attend. For more information check out Kissing it Better's calendar for Haringey