Cambridgeshire County Council

Loneliness is an issue that has been widely reported in the press lately as a national issue. We propose to conduct a research project to identify the scale of loneliness within Cambridgeshire and gather user research to inform a strategy for tackling loneliness more effectively across the region. We currently provide directly, commission and indirectly commission a large number of services that aim to reduce loneliness particularly through offering group activities for service users and carer respite and support, however data demonstrates that it is probably that there is a significant cohort of citizens that suffer from loneliness but do not participate in our existing initiatives.

Key objectives

1. Carry out user research and an identification exercise to see where loneliness is present most geographically/ by demography/ by income across the county (testing the ELSA factors that have a statistical relationship with an increased risk of loneliness)
2. Use the local identification data to draft a benefits case that explains the cost of the problem and the potential for savings
3. Co-produce a strategy for tackling loneliness with citizens for improving the local offer for tackling loneliness and engaging the ‘hidden majority’ of residents that are experiencing loneliness