UCLan is calling for parent volunteers from in and around Preston to help with a study on parental loneliness

UCLan are seeking ideas from local parents for loneliness research project. Image: Picsea on Unsplash

Parents will also receive a £25 voucher and a free lunch for taking part in the workshop.

Researchers at the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) are appealing for participants to help identify how technology can be used to reduce loneliness in parents.

The academic team is calling for between 15 and 18 local parents to attend a UCLan workshop on Thursday June 23 where they will participate in a variety of activities designed to reveal how they use their digital skills to connect with others.

Previous research reveals that technology offers great potential to help isolated parents make new friendships while providing access to healthcare support and acting as a vital line of contact with existing friends.

One of the principal investigators, Dr Rebecca Nowland, a Senior Research Fellow within UCLan’s Maternal and Infant Nutrition and Nuture Unit, said: “Loneliness in parenthood is a big problem; around a third of parents in the UK report feeling lonely often or always. We know that loneliness is linked to poor mental and physical health and in parents has an impact on their child’s well-being, social skills and behaviour.

“On the day of our workshop we’ll use creative activities such as brainstorming, poster creation and scenario drawing to help parents discuss and identify ways in which they currently use digital technology to connect with others and reduce loneliness and social isolation. We’ll also look at the aspects of digital technology that encourage and deter people from accessing it.”

The workshop will finish with a parental design session, facilitated by researchers, to suggest novel ways of using existing technology or to highlight design ideas for the implementation of new technology.

The findings will then inform future cycles of research and co-designed workshops with parents.

Each participant will also receive a £25 voucher and a free lunch for taking part.

The workshop will take place between 10.00 am and 2.00 pm on Thursday June 23 at the university.

To book a place, or to find out further information, please email: [email protected].