Supporting communities and tackling loneliness

The government has announced today that 27 areas across England will receive a share of £30 million in extra funding to support communities to tackle loneliness, providing opportunities for people to volunteer, learn new skills and connect with their neighbours.

  • Loneliness blights many in communities up and down the country and opportunities to engage with neighbours or develop new skills can be a lifeline, bringing people closer together.
  • That is why we have launched our Know Your Neighbourhood Fund, which is investing £30 million to support projects in 27 local authorities, with successful projects providing volunteering to help parents and carers, delivering training for young people to become sports coaches, and supporting vulnerable residents with one-to-one assistance.
  • This boost will help deliver volunteering opportunities for local residents, growing social networks and supporting communities to tackle loneliness.
Civil Society Minister Stuart Andrew said:

"During the Covid-19 pandemic, dedicated volunteers and charity workers came together to support our communities in a real time of need - from taking time to check in on neighbours to delivering prescriptions.

We are determined to capture this brilliant spirit and see it continue, which is why I’m delighted to announce the launch of the Know Your Neighbourhood Fund. With funding already being allocated, this will create more opportunities for people to volunteer, learn new skills and connect with their communities across the country."

Rosemary Macdonald, CEO, UK Community Foundations added:

"Loneliness can impact anyone at any time in any community, and the work of voluntary organisations to reduce isolation and loneliness has been in higher demand since the pandemic.

The Know Your Neighbourhood Fund has enabled community foundations to provide vital support to initiatives that encourage impactful volunteering and community connectivity in some of the country’s most vulnerable areas. Over the next three years, the insights we learn will help us to understand the issues impacting volunteering and social inclusion, and we’re so grateful to the Government for this opportunity.

Elsewhere, the Know Your Neighbourhood Fund will create volunteering opportunities in local museums, voluntary arts groups such as community choirs, music and drama clubs, and connect communities through projects related to their high streets. This work will be supported by £5 million to creative arts and cultural organisations through Arts Council England, The National Lottery Heritage Fund and Historic England."

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