NFWI Loneliness Survey

Over the summer, the NFWI launched a short survey on loneliness. In total, more than 500 responses were received, amounting to over 2,500 individual thoughts, opinions and personal experiences shared across all of the questions! Thank you to everyone who took part!

The results have revealed a huge variety of measures and strategies that could be adopted more widely by local communities, including WIs and Federations, to help alleviate loneliness amongst different demographics. Valuable suggestions were also made around how local and national government could take further action. Here we set out some of our main findings. 

The role of government

Respondents were divided as to whether it should fall to government to tackle loneliness. We heard from several respondents that as a hyper-local issue experienced by many of us, loneliness is best tackled through community action and by simply taking responsibility for those around you. Of those that believed government should play a bigger role, there was support for an awareness raising campaign to remove the stigma associated with loneliness and a dedicated national strategy.

 The role of local communities 

As expected, respondents were almost unanimous in recognising the importance of local communities in tackling loneliness.  A few key themes emerged from the range of ideas that were shared. First, the value in organising regular local events that are free or low cost and accessible to people of all ages. Several respondents highlighted the need to ensure the availability of evening as well as day time opportunities to accommodate people who work full-time. It was recognised that community spaces, including churches and community centres, could be used more to host activities.

Second, the importance of being aware of neighbours who might be lonely and taking the time to speak to them and simply say hello. Third, respondents believed that local events and support services could be signposted better through, for example, a community newsletter and leaflets in GP surgeries, chemists, libraries and supermarkets. Finally, several felt that local communities could do more to help raise awareness of the causes and impacts of loneliness as well as the barriers to accessing activities and support.

How WIs and Federations are already combatting loneliness

By its very nature, we know that the WI can help to alleviate loneliness. As part of the survey we asked members to describe any activities they undertake to reach out to people who are lonely. What we found was that many members, since the launch of the campaign and before, have identified their own ways of tackling loneliness which they have embedded into their everyday procedure. If your WI or Federation would like to take action and is looking for more inspiration, download our campaign action pack to read our Basic Guide. 

Next steps

The survey results will be used to help us shape the direction of the Link Together campaign in the New Year when we will be looking at ways to progress the NFWI’s resolution to ‘alleviate loneliness’ during 2018. We also plan to share the results of the survey more widely to spread best practice and influence the development of local and national policy around loneliness.

Please contact publicaffairs@nfwi.org.uk for further information about the survey and the Link Together campaign.