About Us
We believe that people of all ages need connections that matter. We have been experts in the field of loneliness and connection since 2011 and our vision is that everyone can live a life free from chronic loneliness.
We share research, evidence, and knowledge to make a difference to people’s lives.
What we want to change
Loneliness affects people of all ages and backgrounds and touches the lives of millions. It causes real emotional pain and can impact on our physical and mental health. It also has an economic cost in the additional health and care services that are needed by people who are lonely, and the missed contributions that people who are unable to connect could make in their communities.
We work to ensure that:
- People most at risk of loneliness are reached and supported
- Services and activities are more effective at addressing loneliness
- A wider range of loneliness services and activities are developed
What we do
Our work always puts loneliness first. This exclusive focus allows us to maintain a depth of understanding and expertise on loneliness and how it relates to and impacts other issues. We share research and practice about loneliness by creating spaces for collaboration and support.
Building the evidence
We develop new evidence and synthesise existing evidence to create practical resources that answer key questions on loneliness. We draw on research through our Research and Policy Hub which engages academics and specialists from across the world. With these academic partners, we make new research as relevant and practical as possible for organisations that directly support people experiencing loneliness.
Convening and supporting the loneliness community
We bring together a community of practice, learning and insight among organisations working on this issue. We aim to support this community to share expertise, knowledge and experience through the Tackling Loneliness Hub. We also offer organisations the latest research, information, and opportunities to connect to build momentum behind this issue.
Making the case for action
Much of our time is spent campaigning: communicating with, convincing, and persuading those who make choices about health and care spending to tackle and prevent loneliness. We provide a strong voice to commissioners of services and activities at a local and national level through our media work and resources to help others reduce loneliness in their work.
Public campaigning
Thanks to funding from the National Lottery Community Fund, in 2017 we began to engage businesses and the public as part of our campaign. To kick start this work we launched The Loneliness Project, a film that has been seen over 85 million times worldwide and is one of the most watched and engaged with charity campaigns of 2017.
In 2018 we launched Be More Us. Be More Us is a movement that celebrates small moments of connection, like saying hello to someone in your local shop or smiling at someone on the bus. We all need a sense of belonging, no matter how old we are. Our Be More Us videos have had over 100 million views worldwide and we advise other organisations on public campaigning on loneliness from the learning we have generated.
Campaign locally
Between 2017 and 2020 we developed test and learn campaign areas across all four regions and nations in the UK. This has helped in from government policy in England, Scotland and Wales as well as develop a strong cross party consensus on the specific ways in which loneliness can be tackled in Northern Ireland.
Through our work on Promising Approaches and links with organisations across the UK we aim to bring organisations together who can collaborate to make local change happen.
Our funding
We are hosted by the What Works Centre for Wellbeing, supported by National Lottery funding through the National Lottery Community Fund, the EU Interregional Fund, the Worshipful Company of the Mercers as well as other Trusts, donations from the general public and in kind and financial donations from a range of companies.
As we are hosted by What Works Centre for Wellbeing, a Community Interest Company, we do not have charitable status. That means you cannot claim Gift Aid on any donations made to us, but your generosity will still help us thrive and support our work as a non-profit CIC. Learn more about where your money goes when you make a donation to the Campaign.
