We’re part of the Tackling Loneliness Network
Wednesday 22 April 2020
The Co-op Foundation has today joined the government’s new Tackling Loneliness Network, a network of high-profile charities and businesses that will share expertise to help connect groups at risk of loneliness and isolation during lockdown.
The Network is one of a number of measures announced by government today (22 April 2020) to tackle loneliness in the COVID-19 pandemic.
The announcements come as new research from the Mental Health Foundation shows that young people are affected by loneliness in lockdown more than any other age group.
In response, Jim Cooke, Head of the Co-op Foundation, said:
“We welcome the government’s renewed commitment to tackling loneliness during the COVID-19 pandemic, including continued support for the Let’s Talk Loneliness campaign. We’re particularly pleased that loneliness will be a priority category in the government’s recently announced funding package for charities.
“We’re also proud to be joining the new Tackling Loneliness Network, so we can share learning from our national network of Belong projects.
“Our Belong partners have already helped thousands of young people beat loneliness and are now finding innovative ways to meet emerging and intensifying needs during lockdown.
“We’re also seeing young people themselves take positive action to tackle loneliness for themselves and others. Undeterred by lockdown, our group of young creatives recently came together online for a week of workshops to devise the next phase of Lonely Not Alone – our campaign to help young people talk about loneliness and give everyone a way to show they care.
“We call on the public to play their part, too. Our research shows that fewer than a quarter of young people believe society takes youth loneliness seriously.
“Show you care today by posting a positive message online with the hashtag #LonelyNotAlone. By working together, we can all show lonely young people everywhere, that although they may be lonely, they’re not alone.”
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Read more about Lonely Not Alone, which was co-designed with young people and supported by DCMS to build on Let’s Talk Loneliness.