How can we make loneliness everyone’s business?

Background Founded in 2011 by Independent Age, Sense, RVS, Age UK Oxfordshire, Manchester City Council Aim to bring attention to the issue of loneliness and improve understanding Have a network of 10,000 organisations, academics, policy professionals and supporters We were founded by other organisations, those with a longstanding interest in vulnerable people, older people and loneliness. They felt we needed one organisation that could devote its time and resources solely to the issue of older peoples loneliness, especially given that they also had many other campaigns and issues to address Over the last 6 years, with our 1000s of partners and supporers we have made the case that loneliness is a serious public health issue that must be addresses. Policy makers, the media and the public and more aware of the issue than when we were founded. But we need to move beyond our existing role…

Test new ideas: we recognise we don’t have all the answers! What next? Secured funding from the Big Lottery Fund to work with new communities and audiences Test new ideas: we recognise we don’t have all the answers! Support others in their work and share their knowledge and experiences with others The Big Lottery Fun recognised that loneliness was an issue of major concern. They agreed to fund us to broaden our work beyond making the case that loneliness was a public health issue. We will continue to do so at all levels, locally, nationally and UK wide, but we will also be expanding our work in two key ways. The first is that we will be working in communities for the first time. Whilst we have worked with health bodies and local authorities across the country over the last 6 years we have not worked in communities. More on this later., The second is that we are seeking to influence new groups, people and audiences. Our focus to date has been to persuade policy makers that loneliness is an issue of concern, but there are others we need to persuade too. Most importantly, we haven’t come with a set idea of what needs to be done. We have a theory of change that outlines what role we thing different organisations (including ourselves) and individuals can play in addressing loneliness, but it is just that: a theory. The Big Lottery are supporting us to test, evaluate, learn, share and test-again the work we do (and have never done before) so that we, and others, can benefit. We do not have all the answers, nor will everything we try succeed, but we hope to learn from everything we do and share that learning. Finally, we want to support others. We are not a direct service provider. It is others who are doing the hard work to provide support, resources and company to lonely older people across the country. We want to help you do that as effectively as possible.

What we know about loneliness? Developing topic: many things we don’t understand yet Transitions in life pose risks: bereavement, illness, disability, retirement More ‘life transitions’ as you get older Ageing population increases number

Impacts on physical health – equivalent to 15 cigarettes a day The impact Impacts on physical health – equivalent to 15 cigarettes a day Impacts on mental health Impacts on life expectancy Impacts on your ability to get out of loneliness Impacts on us all

Making the public take action but in the right way The task ahead of us Making the public take action but in the right way Making loneliness everyone's business in every community Helping ‘interventions’ improve and grow Individual emotional and psychological needs

We want to understand and address: Engaging the public We want to understand and address: Why too few people form meaningful connections with older people what will motivate them to do so How do we make sure those connections are reciprocal and mutually rewarding The stigma of loneliness Tap into our human need for connections Loneliness is a very personal thing. It is addressed by person to person connections. Therefore the public are crucial to addressing the problem. But not enough are forming meaningful connections with older people. We want to know why. Is it confidence, time or something else? What can we do to persuade them? Importantly how do we make sure that the connections with older people are meaningful. Research has shown that for connections to be meaningful they need to have trust and be reciprocal. SO how can we encourage people to do it without lonely older people feeling there are a ‘charity case’ or others thinking piteously of older people? We also want to understand why people – old and young – feel uncomfortable saying they are/have been lonely. We think that it is a major barrier to people engaging with lonely older people and for lonely older people to seek company.

Mental health, well being and resilience No amount of ‘interventions’ will work if lonely older people aren’t equipped to use them. People need to be aware of their feelings People need to understand it isn’t inevitable People need to have confidence to admit loneliness People need to know what to do People need the social skills to develop connections

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