The aim of the Department for Digital Culture Media and Sport‘s (DCMS) Loneliness Engagement Fund, which is now closed to applications, was to reach the groups in England most affected by loneliness during COVID-19 with communications and engagement activity that help reduce feelings of stigma, and encourage people to take steps to help themselves and others.
The fund has awarded grants of between £17,000 and £50,000 to 9 organisations.
The successful applicants to the Loneliness Engagement Fund were:
1. British Deaf Association has received £20,500 to deliver live-streamed events, videos and information sessions in British Sign Language to raise awareness of loneliness and support options within the deaf community.
2. Gaydio has received £17,000 to deliver online podcasts and audio packages exploring LGBTQ+ loneliness.
3. The Jo Cox Foundation received £34,000 to conduct research on how to engage with 16-24 year olds on loneliness, and use this to reach more young people through their Great Winter Get Together campaign.
4. Made by Mortals received £25,000 to co-create and disseminate podcasts with people with lived experience of loneliness.
5. Mencap received £44,500 to conduct research into experiences of loneliness during the pandemic amongst people with learning disabilities to inform a 2022 mental health campaign.
6. National Autistic Society received £30,000 to develop new content on loneliness for autistic people and run a campaign on social media.
7. National Youth Theatre received £23,000 to support young people to develop creative work that highlights experiences of loneliness, and share this with a wider audience across wider channels.
8. RNIB received £49,500 to create new content on loneliness for people who are blind and partially sighted, and develop resources to support volunteers to engage with their networks on loneliness, and
9. Shift.MS received £20,000 to conduct research to better understand loneliness amongst people with multiple sclerosis, and use this to develop engaging content on social media.
The full item can be found on the GOV.UK website.
Image: Made By Mortals CIC, a Manchester-based arts organisation that creates immersive podcasts, films and musical theatre shows in collaboration with world-class professional artists, health, social care organisations and community participants, was awarded a grant of £25,000 from the Loneliness Engagement Fund.