The Belong Collective is back: helping organisations take action on youth loneliness
19th May 2026
The Belong Collective has returned — bringing together professionals from across sectors to build skills, share learning, and take action on youth loneliness.
Led by UK Youth in partnership with Youth Focus North East, and supported by the Astra Foundation, The Belong Collective is open to anyone working with young people who want to better understand loneliness and strengthen their practice.
Through training and collaboration, the Collective creates space to connect, exchange ideas, and help build more supportive communities for young people.
“We know that loneliness does not just affect older generations, it can affect young people well into their 20s yet support often drops away. At the same time, youth services have faced significant funding cuts, making it harder to respond to the growing needs of young people experiencing loneliness. That’s why it’s so important that Belong is back – bringing people together, rebuilding connections, and creating the space and support young people need to feel they belong”
— Laura Cunliffe-Hall, Head of Policy & Public Affairs, UK Youth
Free training for anyone working with young people
Belong Collective training is open to all professionals supporting young people across any sector or setting. The first training session takes place in June:
📅 Thurs 4 June
⏰4pm – 8pm
The sessions are designed to help participants:
- Better understand youth loneliness and isolation
- Reflect on how loneliness shows up in young people’s lives
- Build confidence in responding to loneliness within existing practice
- Share learning and ideas with others working across different sectors
Opportunity to host a Belong Collective event
Alongside the training, UK Youth is also looking for organisations in Bradford and Darlington to host Belong Collective events this Autumn.
These collaborative events bring together young people and cross-sector professionals to explore youth loneliness, share experiences, and co-create local solutions. Host organisations will receive support with planning, facilitation, outreach, and delivery.
Host organisations will also receive:
- Costs covered for delivery
- Support with recruiting attendees and event planning
- Up to £1,000 for youth-led social action projects tackling loneliness
This is an opportunity to strengthen local networks, amplify youth voice, and help drive coordinated action on youth loneliness within local communities.
👉 Interested organisations can find out more here and submit an expression of interest here
Get involved
Youth loneliness cannot be addressed by one organisation or sector alone. The Belong Collective aims to create opportunities for professionals and young people to learn together, build connections, and develop more collaborative responses.
As part of a wider collaborative relationship, we’re sharing learning with the Tackling Loneliness Hub to support their work and help ensure people can easily find and engage with relevant support and initiatives. Keep an eye out for updates from us on the Hub, including opportunities to attend events and take part in our training sessions.
Whether you’re interested in training or hosting an event, now is a chance to be part of the growing conversation and action around youth loneliness.
If you’d like to learn more or explore potential opportunities for collaboration, please contact Meiyee.yau@ukyouth.org