## Background - The Students' Union adopted a strategic priority to address loneliness in 2023/ 24. - For more information see [[Why is Loneliness the focus of our BHAG?]] ## What we've done - Principally we've created the [[Salford SU Tackling Loneliness Strategy (TLS)]] - In general, there are [[Activities organisations can do to address loneliness]], which we've also applied to ourselves and our student groups. ## Principles - Signpost, don't recreate. If we can use other resources from other charities/ organisations/ groups (including the university) then we should do. - Action focus *in addition to* a theoretical focus. - Using academic engagement to address loneliness, as the primary student engagement mechanism (i.e create connection to others under the guise of the course) ## Previous ideas/ activities that were discounted - Take a [[Health Impact Assessments]] approach ([[Public Health Approach]]) - see [[Meeting with Prof Phil Wheater December 2022 ]] ## See also - See [[Loneliness]] for the broader picture. - See [[Loneliness in Students]] for specifics on Salford and National data. - See [[Why are students lonely?]] - See [[SI-PASS Peer Mentoring]] - See [[barriers to participation or engagement in the SU]]. - Lack of money, Time poverty and not knowing what's available are the principal barriers identified through the [[Alterline Student Research 2022]]. - "joining" a group can be perceived to be a barrier. Do the micro-volunteering piece. - Socio-economic background and protected characteristics also comes into play here- don't feel that groups are inclusive. - Personal life, such as single parent, disability/ disabled dependent - Clique. Alcohol involvement. - Money - Consider [[EAST Model of Behaviour Change]]