Loneliness and social isolation
Introduction
The National Lottery Community Fund has supported thousands of projects that contribute to addressing loneliness and social isolation across the UK.
This work creates places and spaces where people can come together and build positive connections and a shared sense of belonging. Some look at triggers for loneliness and social isolation, while others help people to find meaning in their lives or address practical barriers to being with others.
Here we offer insights and examples from this work, sharing how community-led action can tackle loneliness and social isolation.
Why this matters
Loneliness is normal, and even healthy. It can be a prompt for action, a reminder to re-engage with other people and create or reaffirm connections. Where it can become a problem is if people become isolated through circumstances beyond their control, if it becomes entrenched, or persists over time.
Long-term loneliness can affect the way people view themselves and their place in the world. Lonely people may shut off from others, take less care of themselves or change their eating and sleeping patterns. All this can affect their health, wellbeing, ability to connect with others, and self-worth.
The Campaign to End Loneliness found that 92% of people found it difficult to tell others they were lonely. 8 out of 10 people think they will be judged negatively.
Rather than having a simple, identifiable source, loneliness is a complex condition that is multi-layered and which can be self-perpetuating. Contributing factors can be both personal and societal:
loneliness can be strongly associated with life-changing transitions, such as divorce, bereavement, and retirement
an evidence review from Age UK found that more than 1 million older people feel lonely “always” or “often”
people who live alone and 16-24 year olds are among those who are more likely than others to report feeling lonely
ill health, including long term illness or disability, is an important factor in loneliness – both as a cause and as a symptom
at individual and institutional levels, prejudice can work to isolate minoritised communities, and to cut them off from support
poverty has an impact on loneliness because people often make connections through activities, which may not be available for free
people with little trust in their local area report feeling lonely more often
“Nearly one in five older people say they can go for a week without speaking to a friend, family member or neighbour. For 3.6 million older people, television is their main form of company.” Jo Cox Commission on Loneliness.
What we've learned
What works in preventing social isolation and loneliness
We believe that preventing loneliness has the potential to strengthen communities and improve lives. And we’re learning that there are many ways in which community-led action can support preventive work in this space.
Helping people find meaning in life. Community-led support here can take many shapes: from helping people in poor health to stay with their pets, as Rosie’s Trust does in Northern Ireland, to helping people enjoy social activities in the evenings, as The Stay Up Late does with people with learning difficulties, creating opportunities for them to go to a show, gig or the pub with someone. These are very different approaches, but both work by supporting people to do what matters to them.
Addressing stigma around loneliness
People are often reluctant to identify as lonely, or to sign up for a lonely person’s project. There’s also a concern that just introducing people to each other won’t, in itself, create a real connection: you can’t prescribe friendship. People need to feel that they are valued as individuals, not seen as problems to be solved.
Identifying and supporting people at trigger points
Specialist services can help people at moments of significant change, and prevent chronic or severe loneliness from setting in. Bereavement projects show us that support to cope with grief and the natural feelings of loneliness can help people to come to terms with their loss and take positive steps to plan for life ahead. Charity Break provides emotional support for parents who are splitting up. This support is provided as soon as possible before or during separation so as to prevent isolation and problems escalating
Giving can be as beneficial as receiving
For many of us, knowing that we have contributed improves our sense of self-worth. And that contribution can take many forms. For example, Henpower supports care home residents to keep chickens. The hens are an interest and a hobby, but it’s the sense of shared responsibility that makes the greatest difference. Research funded via #iwill campaign found that young people who volunteer have higher levels of life satisfaction and stronger social networks.
Investing in places and spaces
Community halls, bowls clubs and allotments allow people to come together naturally, in relationships that develop at their own pace. A green space for play, exercise and enjoyment enables connections and wellbeing, while a supporting rural transport can reduce isolation by linking communities together.
Making loneliness everybody's business
By driving public conversation and raising awareness, it’s possible to reduce the shame and embarrassment around loneliness. Many community groups work to share a strong public message that it’s acceptable to ask for help, and to say that you are lonely or isolated.
What works in supporting those who are isolated or lonely
We know that efforts should be placed on preventing loneliness in the first place, but we also know that there are many who are isolated and lonely and need our help right now.
Helping the whole community be our eyes and ears
Members of the public, statutory services, local businesses, and charities can all help to identify people who are most lonely. Ageing Better’s Isle of Wight project worked with bus drivers to spot signs of people at risk, offer support, and make referrals to support services. HeadStart, a programme to improve the wellbeing of 10-16 year olds, trained communities to identify risk factors for loneliness and support young people at the right time.
Paying attention to small gestures
To an isolated person, making the first move can be intimidating: it can be nerve-wracking to walk into a room full of strangers, especially if you’ve been isolated for some time. Addressing this with a good, positive first connection cannot be underestimated. Simple, uncomplicated gestures, such as having someone to greet people at a community event, can help to break down barriers, making social interaction less stressful. And building in time after activities to ensure that participants can have a cup of tea and a chat can allow connections to develop organically.
Giving people choices
Giving people choices about where or how to get involved and how often they want support, can offer people a sense of control. People may need different kinds of support to take part, such as help with transport, or someone to accompany them to events.
It can help to focus on bringing people together, rather than only addressing loneliness directly
Many people form meaningful friendships through shared hobbies, interests, and experiences, without taking part in formal befriending projects.
Capitalising on the power of peer support
ManHealth runs targeted peer support for isolated and lonely men in the North East of England. They have found that peer groups can provide a sense of belonging to a community of people with similar experiences, and a safety net to turn to at difficult times.
Being positive and confident
The language we use, and people’s perceptions, make a big difference to how services tackling loneliness are received.
Needing a nuanced approach for different age groups
Young people feel the issue isn’t taken seriously, and the majority would rather confide in their peers than anyone else. They find it easier to offer help than to admit they themselves need help. Bridging gaps between age groups and breaking down age-related prejudices can build a sense of community.
Social media, online forums and digital tools can widen access to support and information – but at the same time, they can create more divisions
We are hearing increasing numbers of stories about people missing opportunities for meaningful face-to-face interaction, rather than simply participating in online forums.
Everyone has a part to play in preventing loneliness, so kindness matters
Isolation can make people feel very fragile so a friendly welcome can be the difference between making a real connection or withdrawing again.
Key messages
Preventing feelings of loneliness isn’t just about bringing people together for the sake of togetherness. We’ve seen that effective community-led approaches do more than increase the number of interactions people have. Helping people find meaning, purpose, confidence, and a sense of belonging is central to tackling loneliness. The quality of relationships can matter more than the quantity.
Support for those who feel lonely or are isolated tends to work best when it’s personalised, gradual, and practical. Effective interventions range from helping people overcome practical barriers such as transport, mobility, and confidence, to helping people take manageable steps towards greater connection and participation.
Small moments of connection from looking out for a neighbour, to smiling and saying hello can make a big difference. As we aim to support whole communities, we can all help to improve people’s perception of themselves, the people around them and the places where they live.
Communities play a vital role because they can help create belonging, encourage people to contribute, create welcoming spaces, and spot people who may be struggling.
Find out more
We carried out this research in 2019 and provided some updates in 2026. You can find the full report in our Evidence Library.
You can also search the Evidence Library for other National Lottery funded studies on loneliness.