We recently hosted a powerful and timely discussion "You Are Not Alone: Solutions to the Loneliness Epidemic" as part of our Compassion in Politics webinar series.
Loneliness is an issue deeply tied to the mission of Compassion in Politics, and the webinar explored its far-reaching effects on individuals, communities, and society as a whole. Our expert panel brought together voices from across the field, including:
- Will Fletcher from the Jo Cox Foundation, whose work through the Jo Cox Commission on Loneliness has been instrumental in tackling this issue.
- Dr Julian Abel from Compassionate Communities UK, who has worked since 2013 with medical teams to address loneliness from a public health perspective.
- Cllr Ifraax Samatar from Hackney Council, who highlighted the vital role of local government in fostering community cohesion.
Together, they shed light on how loneliness is not merely a personal experience but a pressing societal challenge—one that exacerbates public health crises, fuels division, and weakens community ties.
Recent research by Dame Sara Khan, the government’s former counter-extremism tsar, further underlines the urgency of addressing this issue. In a report published this week, she warned:
“The weakening of social cohesion provided an environment for extremist narratives to take root, she said. The increase in extremist activity contributed to a weakening of social cohesion in a vicious cycle, she added.
This could be eased by building cohesive communities, addressing local grievances and disillusion with authority and improving democratic engagement where hostile attitudes exist.”
Key Takeaways:
- Julian Abel emphasised the profound personal and societal benefits of tackling loneliness holistically, advocating for compassionate care at every level of the community.
- Ifraax Samatar highlighted the critical role of local councils in bridging the gap between the community front line and policymakers, ensuring that decisions reflect the needs of communities.
- Will Fletcher reminded us of the powerful message from Jo Cox: “We have more in common than that which divides us.” He stressed how division and loneliness are interconnected and must be addressed together.
A central theme that emerged from the discussion was that Compassion is key. By fostering a neighbourly spirit and resisting the isolation created by rigid identity divisions, we can strengthen social bonds, counter divisive narratives, and prevent the rise of polarising ideologies that exploit loneliness and disconnection.
Together, we can build a compassionate and inclusive future—one that rejects the politics of division and fear.
We believe a new, compassionate approach to politics can help tackle loneliness and foster stronger communities.
We must join and support democratic reforms that give a voice to all and reduce the influence of divisive politics such as a legal ban on lying in politics to rebuild trust in democratic institutions.
Can you help us keep building a more compassionate approach to politics?
We need funding and resources to keep up the pressure, both by calling for reforms in parliament and directly challenging divisive rhetoric in our communities.
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Warm regards,
Rach
Compassion in Politics
P.S. If you missed the webinar, you can catch up on the discussion [here]