Our conference this year – ‘Kindness Can: A Positive Future for Loneliness’ marks a crucial moment in our ambition to end loneliness, and will bring together the brightest minds and best ideas from all over the country.

At a time when divisions in society seem to run deeper than ever, we are shaping the solution: an outbreak of kindness.

The conference will take place in London on 20th September at 30 Euston Square. A major public movement – the Kindness Movement – will be launched too. Both the conference and the movement mark a crucial moment in our ambition to end loneliness.

It will be a day of innovation, conversation and learning, bringing together over 250 people and the brightest minds and best ideas from all over the country. At a time when divisions in society seem to run deeper than ever, threatening isolation and loneliness, we are shaping the solution: an outbreak of kindness.

The problem of loneliness is growing

Research shows that the impact of loneliness on health is comparable to the effect of high blood pressure, lack of exercise, or obesity.  In fact, it can have the same effect on mortality as smoking 15 cigarettes a day. Chronic loneliness is cutting lives short. Sadly, the problem is growing.

Loneliness is a looming social crisis, and the Campaign to End Loneliness is proud to have put the issue firmly on the public and political agenda. The Charities Evaluation Service’s 2016 described us as “the national champion of the issue – a catalyst for change”. We’ve built a research network of over 100 leading academics, sharing best practice across the UK and transforming service delivery. At long last, almost everywhere, loneliness is recognised as a major public health issue.

But now, we need action.

Plan for the conference

At the conference we will:

  • Launch a kindness movement, inspiring the nation to tackle loneliness
  • Host innovative performances exploring loneliness through the arts
  • Hear exciting key note speakers explore loneliness and kindness
  • Host a debate on loneliness and leadership

We will run interactive workshops across five areas:

  • Taking practical action on loneliness
  • Changing society’s attitudes to loneliness
  • Loneliness services: cutting-edge delivery
  • Talking to new audiences
  • The future of loneliness

Loneliness is everyone’s business. Loneliness is not inevitable. Everyone in older age should have meaningful connections in their life.

Tickets for the conference are available now. Buy your tickets now to be part of the conversation.