The Belong Collective brings together practitioners to share learning, challenges, good practice, and new thinking around youth loneliness. This work goes beyond the youth sector, supporting anyone who works with young people to better understand loneliness and embed effective ways to respond within their existing practice. The Collective focuses on strengthening cross-sector collaboration, influencing policy, and supporting practitioners – many of whom can feel ‘alone’ when trying to support young people experiencing loneliness. Young people are a key component in this work, playing an active role in shaping conversations, sharing their experiences, and co-creating solutions alongside professionals.

Led byUK Youth, in partnership with Youth Focus North East and supported by the Astra Foundation, we are pleased to announce the Belong Collective is back — building on what we started and going further.

Our vision

We’re building a collective that takes real, joined-up action to tackle youth loneliness:

“Youth isolation and loneliness is an important topic that youth workers and youth providers need to explore with young people. We are excited to be working with UK Youth on the Belong Programme. The previous Belong Programme was impactful in amplifying young people’s voices on this topic, and we feel this will grow with the new funding.” — Laura Bush, Director of Youth Work at Youth Focus North East

Why do we need to tackle youth loneliness?

Youth loneliness is a significant and often hidden issue. Here’s what young people have told us about what loneliness looks like to them and the stigma they face as a result.

Practitioners are also seeing this shift. Loneliness is not just a legacy of COVID-19 — it’s becoming more complex and harder to address. That’s why we’re creating opportunities to learn, connect, and take action together.

Get involved

Be part of the change

Loneliness is complex.
But together, we can make sure young people feel:

Seen. Supported. Connected.

Like they belong.