Table 3.

Included third sector and policy evidence from 25 sources (reports, websites, projects and resources).

Charity or Organisation	Title (Date of publication) Link to website	Description of source and age of children	Findings or recommendations
Reports
Office for National Statistics [68]	Children’s and young people’s experiences of loneliness. (December 2018) https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/wellbeing/articles/childrensandyoungpeoplesexperiencesofloneliness/2018	Analysis of children’s and young people’s views, experiences and suggestions to overcome loneliness using interviews and surveys. 10–24 years old	Suggestions to tackle loneliness: —Reaching out to others for emotional support and advice, participating in activities, clubs and sports, going to community spaces where you might meet new people, and volunteering —Putting loneliness on the school curriculum, preparing young people for life transitions and what to expect, increasing and augmenting support from pastoral care managers or counsellors —Societal approaches to change the way we deal with loneliness and to create a culture of openness e.g. talking about loneliness more openly as we do with mental health.
The Children’s Society [62]	Loneliness in childhood. Exploring loneliness and well-being among 10–17 year olds. (March 2019) https://www.childrenssociety.org.uk/sites/default/files/loneliness.in_.childhood.2019-compressed.pdf	Children completed the household survey in May and June of 2018. The survey covers 2,000 households in England, Scotland and Wales, and is socio-economically representative. 10–17 years old	This report identifies the importance of strong relationships in tackling loneliness. This includes family relationships, relationship with friends, and relationship with other adult role models. Community building, tackling bullying and access to more specialised mental health support are also touched upon.
Co-op Foundation [50]	We are lonely, but not alone. How young people are beating loneliness, and what we can all do to help. (September 2019) https://www.coopfoundation.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/We-are-lonely-but-not-alone-Research.pdf	Report considering how young people are responding to loneliness. 10–25 years old	Findings: —Most young people show a self-help spirit when it comes to tackling loneliness —Those who had felt lonely used on average two to three different techniques to address this —The self-help approach has limitations; there was a mis-match between the approaches most widely tried by young people and those which were most likely to be effective —The loneliest young people, who may lack existing support networks from family or friends, face particular challenges —The majority of young people would be comfortable helping others their age who may be lonely —Peer support remains an under-used resource —Perceptions that youth loneliness is not taken seriously by society.
Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport and Office for Civil Society [88]	Loneliness Annual Report. (January 2020) https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/loneliness-annual-report-the-first-year/loneliness-annual-report-january-2020--2	Update on governmental loneliness strategy. All ages	Young people struggle with loneliness more than any other group, but targeted interventions and policies are currently relatively sparse. Report focuses on the need for further policies targeted at tackling children and young people’s loneliness; the need for more information and communication about loneliness and the activities which are available to reduce it; and the need to tackle loneliness through place (strengthening community infrastructure and assets, and growing people’s sense of belonging). Strategic commitments include primary and secondary school children being taught about loneliness from September 2020.
Barnardo’s [89]	Left to their own devices: Young people, social media and mental health. (June 2019) https://www.barnardos.org.uk/sites/default/files/uploads/B51140%2020886_Social%20media_Report_Final_Lo%20Res.pdf	The main aim of this report is to understand the views of children and young people regarding the impact of social media on mental health and wellbeing. The report also discusses the effect of social media in relation to isolation and loneliness. Under-5 to 19 years old	Findings: —Social media can be beneficial in reducing isolation and loneliness among children and young people. —Through creating and maintaining real world connections online, children and young people can expand their ‘social capital’ and therefore reduce loneliness. —Social media can play a role in helping children and young people who, as a result of illness, may not have the opportunity to physically meet with others.
Mental Health Foundation [67]	State of a generation: Preventing mental health problems in children and young people. (November 2019) https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/publications/state-generation-preventing-mental-health-problems-children-and-young-people	This report discusses loneliness in the context of mental health. Children and young people up to 25 years old	It finds that many young people: —Are unable to speak about their emotions with others —Feel isolated and lonely —Lack companionship —Lack a trusted adult to go to for advice and support if they are experiencing a problem (including mental health problems) Also discusses the feelings of fear, isolation and loneliness caused by the stigma, discrimination and abuse experienced by people with learning disabilities.
Samaritans [69]	Loneliness, suicide and young people. (January 2019) https://media.samaritans.org/documents/loneliness-suicide-young-people-jan-2019.pdf	Report outlining findings from a literature review, an online survey with 250 young people who had felt lonely and suicidal at some point(s) in their lives, interviews with 15 young people on their experiences of loneliness and suicidal thoughts, and a roundtable with policy experts. 16–24 years old	Recommendations include to: —Include loneliness in training for practitioners who work with young people, specifically those who are at risk, to improve the number of young people who are identified for early help and support —Roll out national awareness campaigns to tackle the stigma that many young people are experiencing around loneliness —Take a public health approach when commissioning services for young people, e.g. social prescribing.
Sense [61]	“Someone cares if I’m not there”: Addressing loneliness in disabled people. (October 2017) https://www.nat.org.uk/sites/default/files/publications/loneliness_report_-_someone_cares_if_im_not_there.pdf	A report by the disability charity Sense for the Jo Cox Commission on loneliness, on behalf of a coalition of disability charities to collectively highlight the issue of loneliness for disabled people. All ages including children and young people	Recommendations: —Increasing awareness, improving social attitudes - Enabling independence through access to social care —Tackling poor accessibility —Providing fair and adequate financial support —Increasing access to employment and work experience.
Action for Children [63]	It starts with hello. (November 2017) https://www.actionforchildren.org.uk/media/9724/action_for_children_it_starts_with_hello_report__november_2017_lowres.pdf	A report looking into the impact of loneliness in children, young people and families. Includes a parental survey. Children and young people of all ages including 11–25 years old	Examples of current schemes which provide support to develop social skills, promote resilience and reduce isolation include: —Anti-bullying programmes in schools and colleges, youth clubs, sports clubs and online —Personal, Social and Health Education (PSHE) at all levels of schooling, including Life Skills for older children —Mental health support on site in all educational settings —Peer counselling, local befriending or mentoring services —Opportunities to help others through volunteering or working in the community.
UK Youth [90]	A place to belong: The role of local youth organisations in addressing youth loneliness. (August 2018) https://ukyouth.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/A-Place-To-Belong-The-role-of-local-youth-organisations-in-addressing-youth-loneliness.pdf	This report focuses on the role of local youth organisations in addressing youth loneliness from the perspective of youth workers. (Includes a quantitative online survey focus groups, and in-depth interviews.) 9–25 years old	Recommendations: —Support for further research and consultation with youth workers, young people and experts to develop a youth sector-wide strategy for youth loneliness —An increase in core funding to enable existing local youth organisations to provide support to young people at risk of loneliness —An increase in funding for detached work to allow youth organisations to better engage those young people who can’t access, or aren’t accessing, youth services. —Development of tools and resources to help youth workers raise awareness of loneliness, appropriately and effectively among all young people —Development of activities and resources to help youth workers identify young people at risk of loneliness, and young people to identify themselves and their peers as at risk and in need of support —Development of activities and funded programmes that build resilience and strong support networks—two key protective factors in reducing the risk of loneliness.
ACEVO [91]	Coming in from the Cold: Why we need to talk about loneliness among our young people. (May 2020) https://www.acevo.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Coming-in-from-the-Cold.pdf	Report on loneliness among young people in London emphasising the cost benefits of reducing loneliness in this age group. Approximately 16–26 years old	Recommendations: —Building personal resilience and capacity to form healthy relationships. —Building communities.
Websites
Young Women’s Trust [92]	‘Lifetime of loneliness: one in four young people feels lonely, finds Young Women’s Trust’. (January 2019) https://www.youngwomenstrust.org/what_we_do/media_centre/press_releases/904_lifetime_of_loneliness_one_in_four_young_people_feels_lonely	Webpage reporting the survey carried out for Young Women’s Trust (a charity that supports young women on low or no pay). 18–30 years old	A lack of close relationships is a possible reason for loneliness. Feeling isolated impacts on young women’s confidence and their mental health. Combined with a lack of networks, this can make it harder to look for jobs and can lead to young women being shut out of the labour market. More support is needed for young women who want to work. This includes mentoring to help ease women’s move back into education or employment. The charity argues that tackling loneliness would benefit individuals, businesses and the economy.
Mind [93]	Tips to manage loneliness. (July 2019) https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/tips-for-everyday-living/loneliness/about-loneliness/	Mental health charity website. Explains loneliness, including the causes of loneliness and how it relates to mental health problems. Gives practical tips to help manage feelings of loneliness, and other places you can go for support. All ages	Tips and suggestions for managing feelings of loneliness: —Take it slow —Make new connections —Try peer support —Try to open up —Talking therapies —Social care —Be careful when comparing yourself to others —Look after yourself.
Childline [94]	Loneliness and isolation. (no date available) https://www.childline.org.uk/info-advice/your-feelings/feelings-emotions/loneliness-isolation/	Website of children’s counselling service (online and telephone) run by the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (a child protection charity). Children under 19 years old	The website provides a range of recommendations including a ‘guide for developing trust’ and suggestions for ‘things that can help if you feel lonely’. These include support from other people on Childline’s message boards, tracking feelings on their mood journal, using their Art box to draw or write down thoughts, and talking to a Childline counsellor for support.
The Source [95]	Feeling lonely. (no date available) https://www.thesource.me.uk/health/feeling-lonely/	Local website with information and advice for young people in Suffolk. Children and young people of all ages	Recommendations: —Re-connect with people around you —Tell someone how you are feeling (if you don’t who to talk to, you could text a school nurse on for free confidential advice and support) —Remember you are loved and valued for being amazing you, even if you don’t feel like it sometimes —Get involved in something e.g. volunteering —Find a local youth group —Search for leisure activities and groups in your area —Emotional wellbeing hub for children and young people’s —The website also gives practical advice if you are nervous about joining a new group/activity for the first time.
YMCA [59]	Ending the loneliness epidemic amongst young disabled people. (August 2017) https://www.ymca.co.uk/youth-opportunity/news/ending-loneliness-epidemic-amongst-young-disabled-peopled	Webpage of local central London YMCA describing efforts to provide accessible social spaces. Young people especially 16–19-year-olds	A lack of understanding about disabilities leads people to avoid those with them, and consequently makes it harder for disabled people to make and maintain lasting friendships. Often people without a disability don’t believe they have anything in common with those who do. There are also numerous practical barriers to social connections that disabled people face, such as inaccessible facilities, transport links and inappropriate social care. The club currently runs an inclusive sports club every Sunday, works with local schools to put on yoga classes for those with special educational needs and disabilities, is currently running a week-long cooking course for those with disabilities. YMCA Training also delivered apprenticeships to 144 learners with a disability.
Resources
Educare [96]	Supporting children and young people with loneliness. (no date available) https://www.educare.co.uk/Media/Supporting%20children%20and%20young%20people%20with%20loneliness.pdf	Resource for parents created by Educare (part of TES; a weekly UK publication aimed at education professionals). Children of all ages	Recommendations: —Having someone to talk to —Strengthening family relationships —Strong relationships e.g. peer relationships and friendships —Positive adult role models —Finding opportunities for children and young people to spend time with caring and inspiring adults —Spending time outside or with animals —Ensuring a good diet, staying hydrated, getting enough sleep —Online support: to reach out to others with similar interests, share experiences and ask advice.
Public Health England and UCL Institute of Health Equity [64]	Local action on health inequalities: Reducing social isolation across the life course. (September 2015) https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/461120/3a_Social_isolation-Full-revised.pdf	Practice resource which emphasises that social isolation and the relationship with health and inequalities in health is complex and multi-factorial. All ages including children and young people	Recommendations and findings: —Support children and families in building good quality relationships —Tackling bullying by families, schools and the wider community to generate positive and inclusive attitudes to all —Young carers are a group at increased risk of social isolation whose needs are unlikely to be met —The potential of the built environment to impact on social isolation.
Ambitious about Autism [60]	Include Autism. (April 2019) https://www.ambitiousaboutautism.org.uk/what-we-do/youth-participation/youth-led-toolkits/include-autism	This resource has been created by members of the charity’s Youth Council to help tackle the problem of loneliness and social isolation felt by many of their peers by helping more autistic young people access youth groups and after school activities.	It is designed give those running youth groups or clubs a better understanding of autism and how to support autistic young people. The toolkit offers advice on what autism is and how to talk about it positively. Tips include: —Giving new members the option of visiting the group before they start —Dim the lightbulbs, use natural light, or allow sunglasses —Say a person’s name before giving clear and straightforward instructions —Allow headphones or ear-defenders and have a designated quiet room —Have a visual agenda showing what is going to happen —Offer new members a buddy to show them where to go and what to do.
Projects
Manchester Metropolitan University, 42nd Street (funded by the Co-op Foundation) [97]	Loneliness Connects Us. (2016–2019) http://www.lonelinessconnectsus.org/	Project looked at the use of artistic and creative methods to both explore and create strategies to reduce youth loneliness. 42nd Street is a local charity that supports young people with your emotional wellbeing and mental health. 11–25 years old	Recommendations and findings: —Develop new ways of thinking and talking about youth loneliness —Restore threatened youth work provision so that all young people have someone who knows and accepts them for who they are —Interventions should go beyond individual funded projects and towards commons spaces and social movements to bring into being more co-operative and convivial communities —Arts-based and creative methods create spaces and relationships where young people can find connection and navigate painful forms of loneliness.
Young Minds [98]	Using photography to tackle loneliness. (November 2018) https://youngminds.org.uk/blog/using-photography-to-tackle-loneliness/	Young Minds is a child and young people’s mental health charity. Capture Change was a project for young people from Southwark. Child or young person up to 25 years old	The Capture Change project used photography to explore what loneliness and belonging meant to young people, and developed participant’s skills and confidence to raise awareness about these topics amongst their peers. Each participant was given a camera for the duration of the project and was asked to respond to a series of questions through photography. Each day of the project, participants prepared small fieldtrips in the neighbourhood to spaces they felt could create a sense of belonging and connection for young people.
Co-op Foundation and NCP [99]	The Building Connections Fund: Co-design and community spaces. (June 2019) https://www.thinknpc.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/BCF-CDCS-Final-Report-updated.pdf	A qualitative evaluation of 144 government-funded projects to maximise the use of community spaces for young people. This is to better understand the role of co-design and community spaces in reducing loneliness for young people. 8–25 years old	Recommendations and findings: —Organisations showed little explicit focus on the potential of community spaces to reduce loneliness —For many young people, their experience of loneliness or isolation may be most painfully felt in the online space —Co-design was found to improve how participants view loneliness, and how they talk about it with others. It helped participants build friendships and improve their social skills. It increased their confidence, which can unlock other skills and interests —Created a safe space for people to talk about loneliness, critical for enabling and facilitating conversations.
MindOut [100]	Peer Support Groups. (no date available) https://www.mindout.org.uk/get-support/peer-support-groups/	MindOut is a mental health service that works to improve the mental health and wellbeing of LGBTQ communities and to make mental health a community concern. Under 30 years old	The peer support groups are confidential, non-judgemental, independent from other services, free of charge and run by experienced mental health workers. There is a specific Under-30’s group for young people. This provides opportunities for LGBTQ people to: —Meet others with shared lived experiences and identities —Create a safe and supportive space —Help reduce loneliness and isolation and share coping strategies.
Anna Freud Centre [101]	Help Create a New Wellbeing App for Young People! (no date available) https://www.annafreud.org/on-my-mind/get-involved/research-and-studies/ketka/	Call for young people to help in the creation of wellbeing app. 14 to 19 years old	To combat the intensified feelings of loneliness and isolation, an online platform is being developed for young people to positively connect with each other throughout this uncertain time. They are looking for young people to participate in a virtual workshop to co-design the new platform.
Co-op Foundation and Effervescent [70]	Lonely Not Alone. (September 2019) https://www.coopfoundation.org.uk/news/lonely-not-alone-campaign/	The campaign was created by a group of nine young people who’ve felt lonely in the past, to beat the stigma of youth loneliness, in partnership with the specialist youth co-design agency Effervescent.	‘Lonely Not Alone’ campaign encourages everyone to wear yellow socks to show they care about youth loneliness. Supporters can then post a picture of themselves online using #LonelyNotAlone. People are invited to get involved whenever and wherever they like. It is hoped that every time someone wears yellow socks, they will show young people everywhere that youth loneliness matters.