Nottingham charity launches campaign to challenge Christmas loneliness among youth

A Nottingham charity set up to tackle loneliness among young people is planning get-togethers over the Christmas holidays to form social connections.

A variety of festive events and community building workshops have been organised by The Wolfpack Project, including quizzes and Christmas card making with the aim of building social groups and encouraging young people to openly talk about their mental health.

Multiple surveys across the country have highlighted that young people have excessively been affected by lockdown and the limitations of face-to-face contact, which worsens over the winter season.

“loneliness among young people is a silent pandemic…”

damien Reynolds, the wolfpack project ceo

The charity is dedicated to reducing loneliness and social isolation in young adults.

Its founder and CEO, Damien Reynolds said: “Young people coming out of lockdown, and potentially facing another over the winter are feeling chronic loneliness like never before.”

The charity plan to expand the organisation in 2022, due to the growing issue of loneliness, by working with a range of Nottingham venues and independent businesses including Broadway Cinema and Nottingham Playhouse.

Mr Reynolds added: “We hope that our winter campaign will encourage young people to talk about their mental health and reach out to us if they feel lonely.”

Phone lines have also been opened to young people who are feeling lonely and just want someone to talk to.