CHILDREN'S centres in Barrow will be hosting a special session to help parents combat loneliness.

Action for Children in Greengate Street, Barrow will be offering Jo Cox Chat and Play sessions from Monday, in the hopes of encouraging people to overcome isolation and access support.

A recent report by the children's charity revealed 52 per cent of parents have suffered from loneliness and began the #startswithhello campaign to encourage communities to connect with each other.

A Barrow service user named only as Sarah began attending the sessions after coming out of a difficult relationship and is now training to become a volunteer to help others.

The 35-year-old said: “Things were hard as I had just separated from my ex-husband.

"It was a bad controlling relationship and I had my daughter to bring up by myself.

"I was isolated at first, I didn’t know many people and struggled making new friends.

"I found out about the course Recovery Toolkit for women who had got out of a bad relationship and got in touch with the centre.

"All the courses have helped me a lot and talking to the staff at the centre is the thing that has helped the most."

The session will take place on Monday November 20, 9.30- 11am at Greengate Children's centre within the Chataway group, which is ran by parent reps.