Loneliness among young people is rising

Research from the Institute for Public Policy Research found the number of young people in England with no close friends has risen fivefold since 2014, with one in 20 now reporting having none at all.

Knitting group becomes a lifeline

Rhiannon, 35, joined a weekly knitting and crochet group in Mayfield after separating from her husband. Despite being a beginner, she found a supportive community where she could rely on people for help.

“If I was in trouble in some way, I've now got people I could actually call”

Coffee club grows from WhatsApp group

Ria, 27, moved from Mumbai to London then to Reading, where she faced acute loneliness. She created a WhatsApp group for London friends that expanded to 70 people and now holds regular cafe meetups.

“It just blew up. There are 70 people in the group now”

Exercise classes replace office banter

Rebecca, 31, worked from home and missed casual social interaction. She joined pilates and weights classes at her local leisure centre, finding the informal jokes and laughter filled the gap left by office life.

“Even though you're doing an exercise class, there's that informal aspect where you are having a bit of a joke and a laugh.”

Community theatre becomes close friend group

Ben, 35, joined a non-professional community theatre in Newcastle in 2017 after leaving teaching. Over nearly a decade and 20 productions, he has built lasting friendships that extend beyond rehearsals.

“I have met some of my closest friends here”

Board games shop creates safe third space

Chris, 32, had lost local friendships due to aging, Covid isolation, and lack of peers at work. He found a games shop holding £3 sessions and discovered a welcoming environment to make new friends.

“It's vital for people to have a safe third space”

Girls Collective launches with TikTok

Chloe, 27, and Sarah, 30, created the Girls Collective after moving back to Hertfordshire feeling lonely. They posted activity ideas on TikTok and attracted 65 people to their first event.

Activities help cut through awkwardness

The Girls Collective organises events like keyring making and line dancing where women can meet while trying something new. This activity-based approach helps people feel less nervous about making connections.

Community grows beyond the organisers

The Girls Collective now has 500 women in its community chat and over 250 have attended events. Members have formed their own friendships and hang out outside of the group's activities.

Shared hobbies create genuine bonds

Whether knitting, theatre, games, or fitness, people found that doing something they enjoyed together made friendships feel natural and meaningful rather than forced.

Moving away doesn't have to mean isolation

Multiple people in these stories moved towns or cities and felt lonely, but deliberately joining or creating groups helped them rebuild their social lives and find community.