A Miss Wales hopeful from Llantwit Major has launched a new nationwide campaign to tackle loneliness among Welsh students.
Hope Shakespeare, a finalist in next year's competition, is behind RISE, which aims to raise awareness and create community links by empowering students to seek support without stigma.
Hope says the campaign is a deeply personal one, having "struggled tremendously" with loneliness since moving to university.
She told Bro Radio's 'The Vale This Week': "I'm only 40 minutes from home but I still moved out and I really struggled to find a solid group of friends."
"I've never felt that I've had that somebody that I can just message...you see all your friends from school online, living their lives and moving onto with these new friends."
"And it really makes you question 'what's wrong with me?" And it wasn't until I started reaching out to people at the end of my second year...that I found out there's so many people around me that also feel the same. And it's just not talked about enough."
Around 13% of people in Wales report feeling lonely - a figure that has remained unchanged since 2021 - but the rate is higher among 16-24 year olds, leading to a profound effect on mental health and wellbeing.
Two years ago, a Welsh Government survey found that around half of all students who responded said they would feel embarrassed or judged if they admitted they felt lonely.
Hope says she was 'very shocked' by the high statistics - and how 'undertalked' the issue is, particularly in universities.
"It's that struggle in silence", she said. "Unless you have the confidence and you decide 'I'm actually going to talk to people'. It wasn't until I spoke to people...and they said 'I feel the same way'. I wouldn't have even guessed that they struggled with it, either."
RISE is built around four key aims:
- Raise public awareness of student loneliness
- Initiate open conversations in schools and universities
- Support connection through social events and peer clubs
- Empower students to recognise and respond to loneliness
The campaign is aiming to expand its impact by partnering with local authorities, schools & universities, community groups and businesses across South Wales.
They plan to create friendship clubs helping students to form genuine social connections, as well as running school talks and coffee meetups in universities.
It's hoped the RISE campaign will also attract education providers to work its connection-based programmes into wellbeing services.
Hope, who was born and raised in Llantwit Major, says she is passionate about using her Miss Wales platform to create positive change for students across Wales.
“RISE is about community, connection and courage,” she added. “If just one student feels less alone because of this campaign, it will have been worthwhile.”
You can hear the full interview with Hope by downloading The Vale This Week podcast or listen again at broradio.fm and via the Bro Radio app
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