# Co-op raises £5.5 million in 18 months for British Red Cross’ loneliness campaign

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2017/03/30/co-op-raises-5-5m-18-months-british-red-cross-loneliness-campaign/
- Published: 2017-03-30T12:30:04+01:00
- Author: Howard Lake

**Eighteen months into its two year charity partnership the Co-op group has raised
£5.5 million for the British Red Cross to help it support people experiencing loneliness
and social isolation. The original target was £3.5 million.**

 

From May 2017 the British Red Cross will provide personalised support for up to 
12,500 people experiencing loneliness or social isolation. New teams of dedicated
community connectors and support at home staff and volunteers will deliver new services
in 39 locations in all four nations of the UK.

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A study by the Co-op and the British Red Cross has revealed “epidemic levels” of
loneliness and social isolation in the UK, with over nine million people feeling
always or often lonely. It identified areas around the UK that need support and 
what that support would look like.

 

The research also found that more than 80% of people agree that there are small 
actions people can take in their everyday lives to tackle loneliness. As a result
the Red Cross is now asking people to put words into action by giving a couple of
hours a week to tackle this major issue affecting people across the UK. Around 500
volunteers from across the country are needed to support the new services and they
will spend time helping each person reconnect with their community, with a commitment
of as little as two hours a week.

 

 

 

https://twitter.com/DoncasterCLF/status/839791497478291456

 

 

 

> The Co-op and the British Red Cross carried out research to look at the triggers
> of loneliness and how we can… [https://t.co/kxK4PaqP9V](https://t.co/kxK4PaqP9V)
> — Free To See UK (@F2CUK_) [December 8, 2016](https://twitter.com/F2CUK_/status/806952693461872640?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

 

 

 

https://twitter.com/redfoxcountry1/status/816359654796075009

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