Projects and partners

MMU, in partnership with 42nd Street, have trained a group of young co-researchers who are investigating how loneliness affects young people across the UK. Their research findings will be widely shared to help raise awareness and improve support.

Envision’s ‘Community Apprentice’ project builds young people’s skills and helps them tackle social issues they care about in their local communities.

Building on their ‘Fast Friends’ project, Youth Focus: North East are introducing new drop-in sessions for young people to meet and make new friends.

Supporting young disabled people in Greater Manchester, through local schools, to explore loneliness through creative arts.

Delivering skills workshops in the South of England, including one with young offenders, followed by up to 6 months of individual support.

Working with award-winning children’s playwright Mike Kenny to develop a play about youth loneliness, with input from workshops in South London schools.

Offering a coaching programme to young care leavers in London, helping them to navigate through the challenging transition to independence.

Providing opportunities for care-experienced young people in Cornwall to volunteer as peer mentors, helping others navigate their transition out of care.

Working with disabled young people, taking a Community Connecting approach to facilitate friendships and relationships that enable them to experience every day opportunities.

Using theatre to help young women with experience of the criminal justice system or at risk of entering it.

Running a national leadership programme for young wheelchair users to increase their skills, confidence and aspirations.

Equipping local community groups in Greater Manchester with the skills and confidence to support young people who have experienced trauma following the Manchester Arena attack in May 2017.

Working collaboratively with four regional partners to tackle loneliness through LIFEMAPS, an approach that focuses on mental health and participation in community activities.

Creating 3 ‘Youth Hubs’ in Wales to support and train young people to get involved with and deliver campaigns, volunteering and fundraising.

Working with young people in Scotland to explore ideas and information on youth loneliness that will be shared nationally.

‘Mind the Gap’ is supporting disadvantaged groups of young people in Bradford to learn new skills and deliver campaigns to raise awareness of youth loneliness.

In Stoke-on-Trent, older pupils will be running a family music festival to support younger pupils entering secondary school.

Running projects in Bristol to support groups of young people who are LGBTQ+ or have experiences of mental ill health to deliver youth-led campaigns.

Working with LGBTQ+ young people in Manchester through 1 to 1 support, community work, volunteering, social groups, and campaigns.

Supporting young people struggling with education in Derby by matching them with a network of local mentors.

Delivering a ‘Youth Activist Programme’ in London aimed at training vulnerable young people to raise awareness of mental health through photography.

Bringing disadvantaged young people from Luton together, to learn how to cook and showcase their new skills by cooking for their local community.

Launching a ‘Young Volunteers’ network in the North East of England, enabling young people to volunteer and befriend lonely people on key days of the year.

Supporting young care leavers in Greater Manchester to set up their own Co-ops which aim to understand and tackle youth loneliness.

Using picture books to establish discussion groups with young people who have learning disabilities in Thanet to explore new ways of positively impacting the world around them