Tips to help your remote project tackle loneliness

Author(s)

ROSE Abigail, et al

Publisher(s):

New Philanthropy Capital

Publication year:

2021

Tips to help deliver remote interventions to tackle loneliness. The document draws upon a developmental evaluation of the Building Connections Fund, the first ever cross government fund dedicated to reducing loneliness in England, delivered in partnership with The National Lottery Community Fund and the Co-op Foundation. NPC supported grant holders by sharing emerging good practice for addressing changing needs and rules throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. The big lessons learnt by grant holders through the Covid-19 pandemic were to: help service users increase their engagement with online activities and offer choice to meet different service users’ needs; ensure support is consistent and reliable, with healthy relationships between staff and users and regular support to create trust and reassurance; work together with local organisations to avoid duplication; put appropriate safeguarding and privacy measures in place; respond to changing user needs during different lockdowns or social distancing restrictions. The document focus on digital delivery (how can you move projects online? How do you engage users digitally rather than in-person?); digital inclusion (how can you help your service users who struggle to make the most of online services, or may be digitally excluded?); safeguarding (how can you safeguard during a crisis? Should you update your policies? How should you think about online safety with regards to digital delivery?); the effectiveness of digital interventions (what does the evidence say about digital and online interventions reducing loneliness?); measurement and evaluation (how can you measure, evaluate and learn?); NPC’s three steps for adapting your monitoring and evaluation approach in a crisis. (Edited publisher abstract)