Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to increase funding to alleviate loneliness in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, the government has provided £23 million to over 1100 charities who undertake activities that tackle loneliness. This has been awarded as part of the government’s £750 million charity funding package. The funding has supported national charities, including MIND, Sense, the English Football League Trust and also local organisations tackling loneliness through community-based interventions.

We will launch a further £4 million fund shortly, together with the National Lottery Community Fund, targeted at small local charities and grassroots groups. There will be two application rounds next year, with local groups able to apply for up to £2 500 each through this fund.