Loneliness strategy to improve access to community spaces for young people

Announcing the funding today, the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) said it would enable the creation of more sustainable community spaces and hubs with a particular focus on improving access for young people.

The Loneliness Strategy also includes plans by the Department for Education to encourage schools to maximise the use of their premises to generate extra income and increase facilities for local communities.

The government, which first announced plans for the strategy in January to tackle concerns over rising numbers of people experiencing loneliness, said young people aged between 16 and 24 are "at particular risk of feeling lonely more often".  

It said possible factors included psychological development and "the many transitions in environment that young people experience".

"Government is keen to co-produce solutions to youth loneliness with young people," the strategy states.

Among the new initiatives, the DCMS is setting up a national Young Commissioners and Inspectors Group, outlined earlier this year in plans for the Civil Society Strategy, to involve young people directly in national services affecting them.  

Further measures planned include support for "grassroot opportunities" to strengthen local social relationships and community ties through funding for the sport and volunteering sectors.