Loneliness can be experienced by anyone at any time, however we know that certain groups are at higher risk, including those aged 16-34. Research also highlights that the relationship between loneliness and mental health issues can be bi-directional, with loneliness leading to poor mental health and mental health issues leading to loneliness. Mental health issues among young people have risen sharply over the past decade, and it is crucial that measures are put in place to address this.

This Government is taking significant action to tackle loneliness among young people, recognising its direct impact on mental health and wellbeing. In line with our commitment to raising the healthiest generation of children, our 10 Year Health Plan sets out how we will work with schools and colleges to better identify and meet children's mental health needs by continuing to roll out mental health support teams in schools and colleges, with an accelerated target of achieving full national coverage by the end of 2029.

Raising awareness and reducing stigma is a core part of our approach to tackling loneliness and improving mental health, including through the Better Health: Every Mind Matters campaign. We have also published the Social Connection Framework to help professionals identify boys and young men who are at risk and are working to ensure half a million more young people have access to a trusted adult outside the home by 2035. Alongside this, the £2.5 billion Youth Guarantee will create up to 500,000 earn-and-learn opportunities, recognising that being out of work increases the risk of isolation and loneliness.

The Department’s response to the COVID-19 recognised the importance of social connection, and we are continuing to build on this as part of our strategy to tackle loneliness.

In addition to providing over £34 million to charities tackling loneliness through the £750 million Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) funding package, over recent months we have continued to deliver the £4 million Local Connections Fund. This funding is being delivered in partnership with the National Lottery Community Fund, and so far we have awarded over 1,300 microgrants to charities and community groups that help people to connect via the things they enjoy. For example, we’ve supported songwriting workshops in Devon, dance classes in Bedfordshire, and online chat services in Durham.

In September, we launched the Loneliness Engagement Fund to provide small grants to organisations that can reach the groups in England most affected by loneliness during COVID-19. Funding will be provided to support communications and engagement activity that will help reduce feelings of stigma, and encourage people to take steps to help themselves and others. We will inform organisations who have been successful in applying for funding in early November.

We are also preparing to deliver winter loneliness campaign activity as part of the Better Health: Every Mind Matters campaign. Building on the success of the Let’s Talk Loneliness campaign, we will be reminding people that it is OK to feel lonely, and providing advice on how people can help themselves and others to tackle loneliness.

We continue to support organisations across sectors to take action on loneliness through our Tackling Loneliness Network. This year, we set up a digital platform to support members of the Network to connect and share resources and best practice. We are also working closely with stakeholders and experts through our new Social Connection Funders Group, and our Loneliness Evidence Group.

In the Tackling Loneliness Strategy, published October 2018, government committed to publishing annual progress reports to provide an update on the implementation of policies set out in the strategy. The first annual report was published in January 2020. This set out progress to date, including action by frontline workers across the public sector to recognise and act on loneliness, the launch of the Let’s Talk Loneliness campaign, the commitment to include measures in the Public Health Outcomes Framework so we can understand local rates of loneliness, and the announcement of an additional £2m of grant-funding to help frontline grassroots organisations that bring people together.

The ministerial group on loneliness will consider whether any further reports should be published this year, as part of its ongoing discussions around the government’s work on tackling loneliness.