The Tackling Adult Loneliness Conference 2026
Previous Supporters Include
Overview
Loneliness is a major public health concern with almost a quarter (23%) of adults in the UK feeling lonely often, always, or some of the time (ONS, 2026). Despite growing awareness and strong progress, the prevalence of loneliness has remained unchanged in recent years, indicating that current approaches are not yet reducing adult loneliness at scale (ONS, 2026). With UK employers losing an estimated £2.5 billion annually through staff turnover, lower wellbeing and productivity, caring responsibilities, and ill health associated to loneliness, addressing loneliness is crucial to strengthen workforce retention, productivity, and organisational performance (Department for Culture, Media & Sport, 2021).
Agenda
Online Registration
Chair’s Opening Remarks
Professor Pamela Qualter, Director of Research, The University of Manchester (invited)
Keynote: Addressing Adult Loneliness: Recent Policy Developments and Assessment
- Reviewing the national strategy on loneliness, assessing recent national policy developments and government priorities to understand their implications for organisational planning and service delivery
- Assessing the impact and effectiveness of current interventions, identifying what is working, where gaps remain, and how approaches can be improved to deliver better outcomes
- Examining the roles of government, public services, employers and communities in tackling loneliness, to clarify responsibilities and strengthen cross-sector collaboration
- Identifying priority areas for action and gain practical insights into how organisations can target the most pressing challenges to improve delivery, engagement and long-term impact
Stephanie Peacock, Minister for Loneliness and Social Connection, Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) (invited)
Keynote: Shifting the Narrative: Normalising Conversations Around Adult Loneliness
- Key insights into on how stigma influences loneliness, assessing why it remains a key barrier to people seeking support and building social connection
- Exploring how shifting individual and whole-system ways of thinking and approaching loneliness create environments where people feel confident, safe and supported to reach out for help
- Examining how stigma and shame affect different communities in distinct ways, helping organisations develop more inclusive and targeted engagement approaches
- Analysing the language used to discuss loneliness and exploring communication approaches that reduce stigma
Emily Sawdon, Research Director, National Centre for Social Research (invited)
Questions and Answers
Comfort Break
Keynote: The Local Council’s Role in Building Belonging and Combatting Isolation: Designing and Planning for Connection
- Reviewing the role local authorities must play in tackling national adult loneliness, providing actionable insights to strengthen community-based approaches and local delivery
- Highlighting how local authorities, healthcare providers, and voluntary organisations can work together more effectively to deliver coordinated responses to loneliness
- Key insights into local delivery models and the ‘Reaching Out’ guide to support implementation and provide proactive next steps which reduce loneliness within the community
- Guidance on how to identify those that are lonely or isolated, providing practical strategies to strengthen connection within communities
Cllr David Fothergill, Chairman of the Community Wellbeing Board, Local Government Association (invited)
Case Study: Community-Based Approaches: Tackling Loneliness in Later Life Through Social Prescribing and Partnerships
- Examining the British Red Cross and Co-op’s partnership to identify key lessons in developing effective place-based approaches to tackling loneliness
- Exploring social prescribing as a strategy to combat loneliness across communities, including link worker connections, referral pathways and community-based interventions to build social interaction and engagement
- How place-based partnerships between local authorities, NHS services, and VCSE organisations can create coordinated, community-led support systems
- Assessing case studies on the impact of partnerships, and place-based interventions to strengthen social prescribing measures for social isolated individuals
Paul Gerrard, Campaigns Public Affairs and Policy Director, Co-op (invited)
Questions and Answers
Lunch Break
Keynote: Tackling Loneliness Among Hard-to-Reach and Marginalised Adults: Strategies for Connection, Engagement and Signposting
- Examining the barriers faced by hard-to-reach and marginalised adults experiencing loneliness including challenges around accessibility, stigma, and engagement
- Exploring effective approaches to identifying, signposting, and connecting individuals to appropriate support
- Exploring how loneliness can disproportionately affect LGBTQ+ communities, marginalised groups, and individuals facing social exclusion, assessing how organisations can better recognise and respond to differing needs across communities
- Gain insight into practical tools, resources, and engagement strategies that can strengthen organisational approaches to reducing loneliness and improve social connection
Chris Frederick, Mental Health Advocate and Lived Experience Advisor, Advisory Board, Campaign to End Loneliness (invited)
Case Study: The Employer’s Role in Tackling Loneliness: A Business Imperative
- Gain practical insights on tackling workplace loneliness, identifying how organisations can measure and address workplace loneliness to improve employee wellbeing, engagement and retention
- Exploring wellbeing and welfare initiatives, networks, tools and designs being implemented, to ensure less employee turnover and increased commitment
- Developing organisational policies that go beyond awareness of loneliness and social isolation but integrate it into workplace practice to improve employee wellbeing, performance and productivity
- Best practice insights for managers on identifying individuals at risk of loneliness and the practical steps needed to provide effective support and intervention
Will Serle, Chief People Officer, National Grid (invited)
Questions and Answers
Breakout Networking: Building Partnerships and Connecting Communities
Join our breakout networking session to discuss the challenges of addressing loneliness, building place-based partnerships, and creating connected communities with industry peers. Delegates are encouraged to share the strategies, initiatives, and action plans their organisations have implemented to tackle loneliness at a national or local level, as well as approaches to reducing loneliness and strengthening wellbeing within the workplace.
Comfort Break
Case Study: Closing the Digital Divide: Preventing Isolation in a Connected World
- Examining how digital exclusion contributes to loneliness and social isolation, enabling attendees to better identify at-risk groups and strengthen prevention strategies within their organisations
- Reviewing the role of partnerships across the public, private, and voluntary sectors in bridging the gap between technology and digitally excluded communities
- Assessing the implementation and impact of the Digital Champion Programme 2022–2026 to understand what initiatives are effective in tackling adult loneliness through digital inclusion
- Exploring practical approaches to overcoming barriers of trust, confidence and digital skills, providing transferable best practice takeaways to improve digital inclusion and social connection
Rebecca Ridley, National Manager- The Silver Helpline, Age UK (CONFIRMED)
Case Study: Designing for Connection: The Role of the Built Environment in Reducing Loneliness
- Exploring how the built environment, accessibility, transport links and social spaces influence loneliness, and what this means for future planning
- Gain practical insights into opportunities for addressing loneliness in both rural and urban communities, identifying transferable takeaways that organisations can implement to strengthen community development and reduce social isolation
- Examining how infrastructure design, public engagement and place-based planning can create communities that foster social connection
- Reviewing successful examples of places redesigned to prioritise social connection and wellbeing, to provide actionable practices for local authorities, planners and community leaders
Josh Nicholson, Head of Programme (Housing and Communities), Centre for Social Justice (CONFIRMED)
Questions and Answers
Chair’s Closing Remarks
Professor Pamela Qualter, Director of Research, The University of Manchester (invited)
Conference Close
Get in Touch
Previous Speakers
Paul Davies MP
Co-Chair
All Party Parliamentary Group on Tackling Loneliness and Connecting Communities
Andrea Wigfield
Director
Centre for Loneliness Studies and The Campaign to End Loneliness, Sheffield Hallam University
Helayna Carole Jenkins
Principal Loneliness Champion
London Borough of Bromley
Amy Perrin
Founder and CEO
Marmalade Trust
Monica Boulton
Strategic Lead for Healthcare Integration & Neighbourhood Health
National Academy for Social Prescribing
Professor Pamela Qualter
Professor of Psychology for Education
University of Manchester and Global Expert on Loneliness
Andrew Wileman
Assistant Director, Chair, Policy Lead
The Salvation Army Older People’s Services Team, International Older People’s Collaboration Network, Loneliness and Isolation
Chris Frederick
Mental Health Advocate and Lived Experience Advisor, Advisory Board
Campaign to End Loneliness
Laura Makey
Senior Lecturer
Sheffield Hallam University
Lawrie Roberts
Pride in Ageing Manager
LGBT Foundation
Nick Gulliver
Director of Strategic Communications
Economics of Mutuality Foundation
Testimonials
I found the seminar very informative and useful, lots of good material to help support my colleagues who work on remote teams.
Thank you so much for an insightful day – hearing from experts in the field of loneliness has been a wonderful experience and I will be taking a lot back to improve my practice and project plans.
Really insightful and informative webinar, with a great range of relevant, interesting speakers, delivered on a really good webinar portal.
Attending the Tackling Adult Loneliness: Designing and Delivering Effective Interventions conference was an energising experience. The sessions gave me practical tools and fresh perspectives that I can apply directly to my work. I particularly valued the opportunity to connect with professionals who share the same commitment to reducing loneliness and building stronger communities. It was both inspiring and empowering.
The conference was really enlightening, the speakers were very knowledgeable and answered all the questions put to them, the networking event was very eye opening, learning about what other people are doing gave me some ideas I would like to take into our company.
So refreshing to hear from a range of expert speakers with fascinating evidence on loneliness and initiatives that help people in innovative ways.
The whole day was very informative and gave clear understanding of the increasing issues of loneliness and Isolation, and to really all work together to tackle loneliness, even if it is just checking in on someone.
Why You Should Attend
✓ Updated with the latest national policy developments, strategies and government priorities on reducing adult loneliness
✓ Gain insight into key challenges including digital exclusion, hidden loneliness, later-life isolation, and workplace wellbeing, exploring practical approaches to reducing loneliness across workplaces and communities
✓ Learn how organisations are building effective partnerships, prevention strategies and connected communities
✓ Networking opportunities with policymakers, VSCE, local authorities, NHS leaders, and private sector organisations
✓ 8 hours of CPD points towards your yearly quota
Who Should Attend
| Job Title Example | Organisation Example |
| Social Worker | NHS Trusts |
| Loneliness Strategy Lead | Local Councils, Combined Authorities |
| Health and Wellbeing Lead | Housing Association |
| Community Development Manager | Voluntary and Community Sector Organisations |
| Chief Executive / Director | Charities tackling isolation |
| Adult Social Care Commissioner | Local Government |
| Mental Health Project Coordinator | Third Sector Mental Health Services, Recovery Colleges |
| Policy and Research Officer | Health Charities |
| Volunteer Manager | Community Charities |
| Older People’s Services Manager | Housing Providers, Care & Support Services |
Pricing Options
PUBLIC SECTOR
Your delegate place at this leading conference gives you: Full access to the conference; E-guide; Networking opportunities during the day; Access to presentations post conference; 8 CPD Points.
VOLUNTARY SECTOR
Your delegate place at this leading conference gives you: Full access to the conference; E-guide; Networking opportunities during the day; Access to presentations post conference; 8 CPD Points.
PRIVATE SECTOR
Your delegate place at this leading conference gives you: Full access to the conference; E-guide; Networking opportunities during the day; Access to presentations post conference; 8 CPD Points.
Sponsorship
Raise Your Profile, Showcase Your Solutions, Generate New Business
If your products, services, and solutions can support our audiences in their roles, and you want to make connections and generate new business with key stakeholders, decision makers, and influencers, then please contact us using the enquiry form below.
IMPORTANT: There are only a small number of sponsorship opportunities available to ensure maximum exposure and ROI – contact us today to secure your place.
Virtual vs F2F
Whilst F2F provide better options for networking, there are many distinct advantages of sponsoring our online conferences including:
- Wider geographical reach of delegates and a different audience who prefer online to f2f
- Lower sponsorship package costs
- No travel/accommodation
- Less time out of the office
- No stand materials required (lower costs)
- 1 of only 2 sponsors involved – less competition on the day
- Prime speaking slot in the morning of the conference including Q&A – less distractions and easier for delegates to hear/absorb information
- Receive all delegate data after the conference to follow-up directly with those who attend and don’t attend (small % but still key stakeholders)
- Ongoing exposure via OnDemand access
To find out more and discuss your specific objectives, please contact us below:
