DEVON Work Hubs are showing their support for Loneliness Awareness Week this week.

Loneliness Awareness Week is run by the Marmalade Trust, the UK’s leading loneliness charity, and is dedicated to raising awareness of loneliness and getting people talking about it, across the UK and beyond.

The theme of this year’s Loneliness Awareness Week is 'Connection Matters' – and connections are precisely what Work Hubs provide; a number of Work Hubs will be organising special events throughout the week to help bring their members together and encourage people to talk more openly about loneliness.

Among the Work Hubs taking part are The Tribe co-working space for female entrepreneurs in Totnes. On Thursday, June 15, The Tribe is inviting local businesswomen to join them for a walk around Dartington and a bring-your-own picnic lunch - contact [email protected] for further details.

Stacey Sheppard, founder of The Tribe, said: 'Being an entrepreneur and working for yourself offers so many benefits but what a lot of people don’t realise is that occupational loneliness can be a real issue.

'You’re often immersed in your business, working long hours, dealing with a lot of stress and making difficult decisions. It can feel like nobody around you really understands you, how you work or what you do and that can feel lonely and can eventually lead to burnout.

'Surrounding yourself with other like-minded people and building real connections with people who get it is so important. Coworking spaces are the perfect place to tap into that entrepreneurial community.'

CoWorking in Devon in Buckfastleigh will hold the first of its monthly CoWalks with a lunchtime walk to Sharp Tor on Tuesday (13 June), providing an opportunity to promote collaboration and wellbeing.

Meeting at the office at 12.15pm they plan to gather at Bel Tor Carpark at 12.30pm, where the group will set off on the walk to the peak of Sharp Tor before heading back to the Work Hub for 2pm.

Isla Farr, Hub manager at CoWorking Devon in Buckfastleigh, said: 'It’s easy to feel lonely, even when life is full of being busy, running a business, being part of a family or just the everyday stresses of normal life!

'Coming to a coworking space gives the opportunity to just be, in a stress-free environment centred around productivity and community where you can meet and chat with other like-minded folk.'

The Work:Space at Teignmouth Library is hosting a coffee, cake and co-working day on Wednesday (14 June) from 9am to 5pm. The special event is a chance for freelancers, remote workers and small businesses to network at the flexible workspace while enjoying coffee, cake and company.