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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/voluntary-sector-network/2018/may/16/loneliness-charities-voluntary-organisations-communities
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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| To beat loneliness, we must connect. Charities can show how | To beat loneliness, we must connect. Charities can show how |
| (17 days later) | |
| More than half of UK adults feel it’s been a long time since they made a new friend, research has found. Almost half (49%) say their busy lives stop them from connecting with others and eight in 10 believe the UK is divided. | More than half of UK adults feel it’s been a long time since they made a new friend, research has found. Almost half (49%) say their busy lives stop them from connecting with others and eight in 10 believe the UK is divided. |
| 'I felt truly trapped': what seven days of solitude taught me about loneliness | Joseph Lindoe | |
| It’s no surprise. Frequent reports of how lonely and divided we are, across all ages and nations, has dominated the news for months. As the head of the first nationwide organisation in the UK dedicated to creating social change on loneliness, I am greatly encouraged by the coverage. | It’s no surprise. Frequent reports of how lonely and divided we are, across all ages and nations, has dominated the news for months. As the head of the first nationwide organisation in the UK dedicated to creating social change on loneliness, I am greatly encouraged by the coverage. |
| But what now? The emotive issues of loneliness and isolation are something we all seem to understand and are moved by. It’s why our film The Loneliness Project has had more than 75 million views across the world. So how does the voluntary sector lead the way in engaging the public to take action on loneliness? | But what now? The emotive issues of loneliness and isolation are something we all seem to understand and are moved by. It’s why our film The Loneliness Project has had more than 75 million views across the world. So how does the voluntary sector lead the way in engaging the public to take action on loneliness? |
| First, voluntary organisations need to recognise their power. They are often at the heart of local communities, cutting across class, race and gender divides. They are the glue of society, reaching people who are otherwise out of reach. So much of their work is about building relationships and social connections. Voluntary organisations are a huge part of the solution to loneliness. | First, voluntary organisations need to recognise their power. They are often at the heart of local communities, cutting across class, race and gender divides. They are the glue of society, reaching people who are otherwise out of reach. So much of their work is about building relationships and social connections. Voluntary organisations are a huge part of the solution to loneliness. |
| Second, the narrative on loneliness needs to start to shift. Highlighting the issue is important, but we need to start talking about the solution. We need to start talking about connections – not just loneliness. | Second, the narrative on loneliness needs to start to shift. Highlighting the issue is important, but we need to start talking about the solution. We need to start talking about connections – not just loneliness. |
| It sounds counterintuitive, but to inspire the public to end loneliness, we must stop talking about loneliness | It sounds counterintuitive, but to inspire the public to end loneliness, we must stop talking about loneliness |
| For the launch of our new movement, Be More Us, the Campaign to End Loneliness built on academic research that shows small moments of connection make a real difference to the lives of lonely people. Small moments of connection are simple, everyday things, such as saying hello to someone on the bus, or making small talk in a shop. | For the launch of our new movement, Be More Us, the Campaign to End Loneliness built on academic research that shows small moments of connection make a real difference to the lives of lonely people. Small moments of connection are simple, everyday things, such as saying hello to someone on the bus, or making small talk in a shop. |
| We also held workshops and community conversations across the UK. We listened to hundreds of people from all walks of life, and learned what connection and friendship means to them. And we found that the public agrees with the research: almost nine in 10 UK adults believe that small moments of connection can make a make a big difference to someone who’s lonely. | We also held workshops and community conversations across the UK. We listened to hundreds of people from all walks of life, and learned what connection and friendship means to them. And we found that the public agrees with the research: almost nine in 10 UK adults believe that small moments of connection can make a make a big difference to someone who’s lonely. |
| So, to inspire mass action, we are taking a different approach. It sounds counter-intuitive, but to inspire the public to tackle loneliness, we must stop talking about loneliness. Instead, we should focus on small moments of connection and what we share. | So, to inspire mass action, we are taking a different approach. It sounds counter-intuitive, but to inspire the public to tackle loneliness, we must stop talking about loneliness. Instead, we should focus on small moments of connection and what we share. |
| Many in the voluntary sector already know this, offering groups and activities based on shared interests – arts and music, sport, nature, volunteering itself – which tackle loneliness by simply giving people the chance to connect. | Many in the voluntary sector already know this, offering groups and activities based on shared interests – arts and music, sport, nature, volunteering itself – which tackle loneliness by simply giving people the chance to connect. |
| Heading on holiday? Spare a thought for older people left behind | Esther Rantzen | |
| The message we want to communicate is that people can get tremendous value from one another – and that small moments of connection are crucial. This is something we know the voluntary sector understands better than any other sector. People might have begun volunteering to “help” – but that is soon overtaken by the genuine connections and relationships that often result. | The message we want to communicate is that people can get tremendous value from one another – and that small moments of connection are crucial. This is something we know the voluntary sector understands better than any other sector. People might have begun volunteering to “help” – but that is soon overtaken by the genuine connections and relationships that often result. |
| The Campaign to End Loneliness will continue to talk about loneliness and its devastating impact. But we hope that Be More Us gives us, and hundreds of other voluntary organisations, a chance to celebrate the things that bring us together. | The Campaign to End Loneliness will continue to talk about loneliness and its devastating impact. But we hope that Be More Us gives us, and hundreds of other voluntary organisations, a chance to celebrate the things that bring us together. |
| Laura Alcock-Ferguson is executive director of the Campaign to End Loneliness | Laura Alcock-Ferguson is executive director of the Campaign to End Loneliness |
| Sign up now for our free, monthly Voluntary Sector newsletter, and share your view with us via @Gdnvoluntary | Sign up now for our free, monthly Voluntary Sector newsletter, and share your view with us via @Gdnvoluntary |
| Looking for a role in the not-for-profit sector, or need to recruit staff? Take a look at Guardian Jobs | Looking for a role in the not-for-profit sector, or need to recruit staff? Take a look at Guardian Jobs |
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