"Tottenham Talking means the world to me."

These are the words Mary quietly shared with me over a cuppa when we caught up about the programme last week.  

Research shows that loneliness has a significant negative impact on our health and well-being. To mark Loneliness Awareness Week, we spoke to three female service users about what Tottenham Talking means to them and how it has helped them feel less alone in difficult times. 

When Mary, Poorna, and Hannah's lives turned upside down and their mental health suffered, the everyday connections many of us rely on – whether through work, relationships or social activities – were lost. Tottenham Talking became a lifeline. 

Tottenham Talking offered more than just activities and sessions. It offered connection. Mary, a chatty, warm Irish woman who has lived in Haringey for many years, talked about the life she had led with her husband of fifty years, who sadly died in January.

"Our home was always full of laughter, fun, music and family."

Mary has been attending Tottenham Talking for the past two years, giving her a weekly routine and chances to connect:

"I have made lots of friends," she said. "We have a good chat, we do our exercises with Dawn and then have a cuppa. You meet so many different people. It's like one big extended family."

That feeling of family or connection is something many people who attend Tottenham Talking talk about. It's a place where people are welcomed as they are, where friendships grow and where nobody has to face life's challenges on their own.

For Porna, who spent many years working as a nurse, life became incredibly difficult after losing both her son and, later, her husband. Finding the motivation to get through each day was a struggle.

"Tottenham Talking gave me a new lease of life," she said. "I do lots of the sessions – art therapy, creative space, exercise and the women's group. It gets me up in the morning. I have no one to help me. These sessions help me a lot. I like to be busy, and it makes me feel less alone."

For Hannah, the project helped her rebuild her confidence after being sectioned last year, an experience that significantly affected her friendships and support network.

"The sessions have given me a purpose and a chance to make friends again," she said. "It helped get me back on my feet and has given me the confidence to join the Tottenham Community Choir, which I love."

While every person's story is different, there is a common thread running through them all: the importance of feeling connected to others and feeling less alone.

Whether it's sharing a cup of tea, joining an exercise session, getting creative, or simply having someone to talk to, Tottenham Talking is more than activities; it has become a place where people can find friendship, support and community when they need it most and know they are not alone.