It is with a heavy heart that we are announcing that the Campaign to End Loneliness will close in April 2024, along with the What Works Centre for Wellbeing who have generously hosted us since 2021.

Read the announcement from our host organisation’s Board of Directors: https://whatworkswellbeing.org/blog/statement-of-closure/

It will come as no surprise to our many supporters and partners that these are tough times for not for profit organisations and many are struggling to raise the vital funds needed to deliver whilst costs are rising. Sadly we haven’t been immune to these challenges and there is no possible way to secure the funds needed for independence or a future host at this time. 

Founded in 2011, the Campaign to End Loneliness and our networks have worked tirelessly to highlight the health impacts of loneliness in people of all ages, bringing together research, policy and practice to catalyse action. We are proud to have built the evidence base through work like Promising Approaches, convened and championed a sector through our conferences and other events, and made the case for action through relentless campaigning in the UK and with partners around the world

There have been some awe-inspiring highs including playing a leading role in the successful campaign to appoint the world’s first Minister for Loneliness, a new frontier for political leadership on the issue. We have also witnessed some terrible lows during a global pandemic which revealed to so many the grave consequences of loneliness and disconnection for millions. 

We will be continuing to run the Tackling Loneliness Hub on behalf of the DCMS until the end of our current contract in March 2024, after which time it will be hosted by a new organisation. And we are excited to have the chance to deliver our final Campaign to End Loneliness Conference in February 2024. We hope you will join us to celebrate the success of our movement and look forward to what comes next. 

We want to take this opportunity to thank the network of pioneers, activists, supporters, policy and practice professionals, and researchers who we have worked alongside; the funders who have made our work possible; and the staff and volunteers who brought this work to life over the last 12 years.

The Campaign to End Loneliness is coming to an end, but the fight for a better connected, less lonely world is just getting started. If you think you can play a part in carrying forward this legacy, please contact us on info@campaigntoendloneliness.org.uk