Using what we learn to become a better funder
We learned lots about how young people tackle youth loneliness and improve mental wellbeing as part of our Building Connections Fund.
Lonely Not Alone – We’re making a difference
More than 3.1m young people have seen Lonely Not Alone and 97% of this group have taken an action, too.
Staying social despite the distance
Community spaces lie at the heart of local areas. They provide a place for people to connect, co-operate and develop support networks.
This is why, in 2019, the Co-op Foundation launched ‘Space to Connect’ – a £1.6m partnership with the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) to fund organisations that wanted to improve and protect local spaces and reduce social isolation. It ran between until 2021 and supported 57 community organisations. Projects ranged from community trusts to youth clubs, arts centres, and city farms.
Where there’s #iwill there’s a way
Our #iwill Fund partnership with The National Lottery Community Fund and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) is our oldest such collaboration. We’re proud to have supported partners to engage young people in high quality social action since mid-2018.
As we mark #iwill Week 2021 – and as we launch our #iwill Fund interim learning report – we look back on this partnership and review what we’ve achieved and learned, particularly in the past year.
Guest blog – Funding Refugee Action
Read how Refugee Action are using our £250k unrestricted funding to improve the lives of refugees in the UK.
Our Carbon Innovation Fund launches on 22 November and here’s how you can get involved
We’re teaming up with the Co-op to decrease carbon emissions from food and farming, and tackle climate change
One small step is a giant leap forward for lonely young people
Our CEO, Nick, blogs about our 2021 Lonely Not Alone experience. The universe goes on forever. Loneliness doesn’t have to.
Let’s create a kinder society for young people to thrive
Co-op Foundation CEO, Nick Crofts, explores our new research into youth loneliness.
Lonely Not Alone returns on 14 October, and here’s how you can help
We’re heading into the Lonely Not Alone universe in 2021, where we are all stars connected by our shared experiences. Will you join us?
Acting fast and funding flexibly to help tackle the refugee crisis
Nick Crofts, CEO of Co-op Foundation, talks about our biggest single donation to Refugee Action in response to the Afghan Refugee crisis.
Guest blog: Pioneering digital and social innovation through the Federation Programme
Linda Humphries, Founder of Paper Frogs, tells us why the Federation programme is so important and what to expect from phase two.
Guest blog: How to help young people unearth lived experience (part 3 / 3)
In her final guest blog, Eloïse Malone from our Lonely Not Alone campaign partner, Effervescent, discusses how to help young people unearth their lived experience so you can best connect with audiences through creative campaigns.
Guest blog: Why social action by young people with lived experience is so important (part 2 / 3)
In her second blog on collaborative creativity with young people, Eloïse Malone from our Lonely Not Alone partner, Effervescent, talks about the importance of lived experience in social action projects.
Guest blog: What is ‘lived experience’ and why does collaborative creativity make change happen? (part 1 / 3)
As part of Loneliness Awareness Week, Ellie Malone from our Lonely Not Alone partner, Effervescent, discusses the importance of lived experience in creating truthful and engaging youth campaigns.
Helping our partners react in real time to Covid
We share insights from NPC’s evaluation into our Building Connections Fund tackling youth loneliness