Loneliness is the modern-day epidemic that is slowly killing us. Research has found that Lacking social connections is as damaging to our health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day and people experiencing social isolation have an average of 29 per cent increased mortality (Holt-Lunstad, 2010 & 2015). Furthermore, 8 in 10 Australians think our society is becoming lonelier,  while 6 in 10 say they often feel lonely (Lifeline 2016).

“It’s not hard to be part of the solution to the loneliness epidemic,” said Creativity Australia Founder, Tania de Jong, “it’s just about finding ways to bring the community together to support one another.”

Creativity Australia’s With One Voice program aims to do just that. It “empowers individuals to strengthen their community by uniting everyone, of all ages, faiths and walks of life”, through their common love of singing.

The With One Voice program includes migrants, people with disabilities, job seekers, executives, seniors, students, refugees, asylum seekers and more. It is an opportunity to create real connections between diverse people in our community. It is about reaching out to those who are experiencing disadvantage  and encouraging the socially advantaged in our community to engage with, lear  from and help these people.

Round Four of the With One Voice Start Up fund will open for application from 17 September to 4 November. Local community groups, not-for-profits and businesses wanting to tackle loneliness, isolation and disadvantage in their community are invited to apply.

Successful applicants join a 12-month intensive mentoring program to guide them through the process of building their own With One Voice choir and a $10,000 seed grant.

For more information and to apply for a place in the With One Voice Start Up project, visit www.creativityaustralia.org.au/start