Celebrating International Women’s Day with Polly | News

Polly seizes every opportunity to connect with others. She fills out her day with meetings, networking and to-do lists, and is an enthusiastic advocate for helping to reduce loneliness and isolation in the Lewes community.

Polly, who is 73, has been a resident at Sussex Housing & Care’s Clevedown sheltered housing scheme in Lewes for the last 10 years.

Today is International Women’s Day and to celebrate, we caught up with the industrious Polly to hear about what she gets up to and the impact this has on herself and others. 

“I’ve always been a busy person, but during 2020/2021 I found myself feeling a lot less mobile and active, thanks to the covid lockdowns and the need for a hip replacement. Once my hip was sorted in 2021 I got my mojo back and I started to re-connect with people and enjoy the things I like to do. I consciously decided that I needed to get back out there and have some fun.

I wanted structure and purpose

I signed up to the Lewes and Villages Seniors Forum which is an informative group for older people, funded by East Sussex County Council, and as a keen member, I soon became their Chair. I wanted some structure and purpose to my days and this role was ideal. I also enjoy going to the House of Friendship in Lewes where there are various activities including exercise classes, coffee morning, lunches, a ukulele group and a bereavement service. Here I’ve made many friends and in Autumn 2023 a vacancy for Chair of the trustees arose and I successfully applied.

I am honoured to be chairing these groups. I get a chance to make people’s lives better, whether this is lobbying for better services, supporting people who feel lonely or isolated, or signposting those who need information and advice, for example about housing, money or health.

Keeping interested in the world outside

I find myself giving at least 10 hours a week to these voluntary roles, often more, and I meet lots of people along the way. I enjoy representing others and ‘having a hat to wear’, like being Chair, as it gives me added confidence. I’m keeping my mind busy and it makes me feel useful and valuable.

Since taking on these roles, I’ve found myself having more involvement with Foundry Healthcare which is our group of local doctors surgeries. They’re keen to hear from older people and naturally, the groups I attend overlap so I help to keep them in touch and bring the community together.

No easy answer

Everyone struggles with loneliness and isolation at times and there is no easy answer to this, but it’s great to see people coming along to the House of Friendship to have a chat or get involved in something.

Take baby steps

My key message to people who may be feeling down, would be to reach out to somebody, whether that’s a GP, neighbour, someone on the bus or in the library. Strike up a conversation and do something out of your normal routine. The world won’t come to you when you sit at home. Try and do something together with someone, take baby steps to reach out and find things you enjoy. And if this fails the first time, try again, don’t give up! 

When thinking about women’s role today, generationally, things have changed a lot, and sometimes older women feel they haven’t got a voice and they can feel like they don’t have influence. When in fact women are key for so much and we’re essential in society. We are valuable and we do have a voice, and I’d encourage everyone to speak up for what’s important”

The International Women's Day 2024 theme is 'Inspire Inclusion'. When we inspire others to understand and value women's inclusion, we forge a better world. And when women themselves are inspired to be included, there's a sense of belonging, relevance, and empowerment, and Polly shares a brilliant example of this.

Thank you for your story Polly, we hope you all feel inspired!

#IWD2024 #InspireInclusion #WomensDay