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A Connected Society: a Strategy for Tackling Loneliness | 1 A connected society A strategy for tackling loneliness – laying the foundations for change Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport 100 Parliament Street London SW1A 2BQ Publication date: October 2018 © Crown copyright 2018 You may re-use this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, Any enquiries regarding this document / publication visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government- should be sent to us at [email protected] licence/version/3/ or write to the Information Policy Team, The National This publication is available for download at www.gov.uk/ Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email psi@ government/collections/governments-work-on-tackling- nationalarchives.gov.uk loneliness A connected society: a strategy for tackling loneliness | 1 Contents Foreword 2 People’s experiences of loneliness 4 Executive summary: 5 • Our vision 6 • The focus of government’s work 7 • The structure of this strategy 10 About this strategy: 13 • The purpose of this strategy 14 • The development of the strategy 14 • The guiding principles 14 • The scope of the strategy 15 • The role of government, communities and the individual 15 • What good looks like: measuring success 16 Chapter 1 — Evidence and insights 17 Chapter 2 — Organisations that support and enable people’s relationships 23 Chapter 3 — Community infrastructure that empowers social connections 35 Chapter 4 — Building a culture that supports connected communities 46 Chapter 5 — Next steps: building on this strategy 59 Annex A — Summary of insights from the call for evidence 63 Annex B — Measures for success 66 Thanks to stakeholders 68 References 73 2 | A connected society: a strategy for tackling loneliness Foreword from the Prime Minister As Prime Minister I was pleased to be able to support the Loneliness Commission set up in Jo's name and I am determined to do everything possible to take forward its recommendations. That is why in January I commissioned this strategy and appointed Tracey Crouch as the first ever government Ministerial lead on loneliness. Part of the work we have to do is to change the way we think about public services. For example, the expansion On Christmas Day, in my constituency of Maidenhead, of social prescribing across the country will change the the Churches Together project holds a community lunch way that patients experiencing loneliness are treated. so that no-one need be on their own at such a special Recognising that medical prescriptions alone cannot time of year. It is a wonderful initiative that I have been address the root causes of loneliness, it will invest proud to support for many years. But it is also a stark millions of pounds in ways of connecting people with reminder of the loneliness that is a reality for too many community support that can restore social contact in people in our society today. their lives. As such, it will also play a critical role in the Loneliness can affect anyone of any age and background prevention of ill-health which I have made a key priority - from an older person mourning the loss of a life for our long-term plan for the NHS. partner to a young person who simply feels different and The strategy also enables all parts of society to play isolated from their friends. Furthermore, as our society their role. It includes supporting the development of continues to evolve, so otherwise welcome advances business champions who will tackle loneliness in the can also increase the risk of loneliness. From working workplace and tech companies who are addressing more flexibly but also often more remotely, to doing our the challenges of isolation and bullying in cyberspace. It shopping online, the warmth of human contact risks will help create new community spaces, for example by receding from our lives. creating new community cafes, gardens and art spaces. Across our communities there are people who can It will also continue to grow the vital work of voluntary go for days, weeks or even a month without seeing a and charitable organisations. For one of the best ways friend or family member. There are people who miss the of tackling loneliness is through simple acts of kindness, camaraderie of some company, the support of a friendly from taking a moment to talk to a friend to helping voice, or just someone who can make them smile or someone in need. laugh to lift their spirits. This strategy is only the beginning of delivering a long That loss of social contact is incredibly damaging to our and far reaching social change in our country - but it is humanity and to the health and wellbeing of everyone a vital first step in a national mission to end loneliness in affected. Indeed, research now shows that loneliness is our lifetimes. as damaging to our physical health as smoking. So Jo Cox was absolutely right to highlight the critical importance of this growing social injustice which sits alongside childhood obesity and mental wellbeing as one of the greatest public health challenges of our time. A connected society: a strategy for tackling loneliness | 3 Ministerial foreword Government can’t make our friends for us, and ultimately the challenge of creating a more connected society lies with each of us in our families, neighbourhoods and workplaces. But what government can do is help strengthen the foundations of society so that it becomes more natural and easy to chat, to share and to trust each other. The Rt Hon Jeremy Wright MP, Secretary of It can amplify the voices highlighting loneliness as a State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport. problem and support the solutions we can put in place. It can create a positive framework for the organisations Tracey Crouch MP, Ministerial lead on that we all interact with every day. Charities, businesses, loneliness and Parliamentary Under Secretary health bodies and local government at the frontline of State for Sport and Civil Society. are made up of people who, with the right framework of support, can turn a transactional conversation into The relationships we have with our friends, family, a friendly moment that makes someone’s day, or can neighbours and colleagues are, for many of us, the most recognise someone’s loneliness and put them on the important things in our lives. Increasingly, we understand path to solving it. the link between having strong and meaningful social connections and living a healthy and successful life. And Government can also work with communities and we see that having more connected communities means other sectors on the way our neighbourhoods, public a more thriving, productive society, in which we can all services, businesses and working environments are contribute and live fulfilling lives. designed and run so they consider social relationships, not just efficient transactions. Government recognises this, which is why the Prime Minister appointed Tracey as the lead minister to take We know that loneliness can affect anyone – from forward a cross-government approach to tackling teenagers and young adults to new parents, carers and loneliness, building on the pioneering work started by the recently bereaved, from students starting at university Jo Cox and carried on in her name by the Commission to older people and those with disabilities, from those on Loneliness. moving to a new area of the country to refugees. As Jo Cox said, loneliness doesn’t discriminate. And that’s Of course, loneliness isn’t new, but the way our society why it’s so important that we all take time to keep our works is changing rapidly. This brings great opportunities social relationships strong, so we are better protected – including new ways of connecting and communicating at vulnerable points in our lives when we can be at a with others. But it also means it’s now possible to spend particular risk of experiencing loneliness. a day working, shopping, travelling, interacting with business and with public services, without speaking to This strategy is a first step; a foundation for a generation another human being. And for some people that can of policy work. It sets out a powerful and positive vision be repeated day after day. So as we continue to make of how government can support people to build stronger the most of new technologies, ways of working and relationships. It calls for everyone in society to play their delivering services, we need to plan for connection and part in making England a more friendly and supportive design in moments of human contact. place, where we can all flourish. 4 | A connected society: a strategy for tackling loneliness People’s experiences of loneliness Dan*, 46 years old, Stephen, 86 years old, Yorkshire and the Humber Greater London Dan is a professional who has autism. He was feeling Stephen has two sons whom he sees infrequently very isolated and depressed before being referred because they do not live close by. He misses male to the Rotherham Social Prescribing Service by a camaraderie, especially because of his loss of mental health practitioner. He says, “I did not leave independence through ill health. Phillip is 35, and my home for six months previously due to my illness his father lives abroad. Linking Lives UK, which and now feel happy and welcome with people here works with churches to set up befriending projects, and intend to invest in my artistic self again, which has brought them together. A close bond has developed been missing for many years due to illness. My family between them. Stephen refers to it as a ‘confessional’! are less worried about me as they know where I am They exchange close problems and discuss shared going and I am really happy there.
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