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In the past few years, we have gained international recognition for the work we're doing. BUT we're a tiny team and we need your help to continue the important work.

Chronic loneliness is one of the biggest health concerns we face, and it's on the rise. By supporting us, you'll help us reach even more people, raise more awareness and create a happier, less lonely society.

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Fundraising

Fundraising for Loneliness Awareness Week

There are loads of ways to get involved in this year's Loneliness Awareness Week from 10th - 16th June 2024. From sponsored runs to film nights and cake sales, fundraising is a brilliant way to support our charity and connect with others.

Ideas for businesses

Charity Bake Sale: Employees bake their favourite goods and sell them at the office, donating the proceeds.
Dress Down Day: Staff pay for dressing down or wearing a themed costume for a day.
Silent Auction: Collect items or services to auction off to the highest bidder, with proceeds going to charity.
Matching Gift Program: The company matches the donations made by employees to charity within a certain period, doubling the impact.
Connection Challenges: Create daily or weekly challenges that encourage people to connect with others in specific ways, such as complimenting a stranger, reaching out to an old friend, or joining a new club. Participants can raise funds by completing these challenges.
Office Olympics: Host a series of fun, competitive events with a participation fee.
Quiz Night: Organise a trivia night at the office or a local venue, charging teams to participate.
Sponsored Challenges: Employees commit to a challenge (like running a marathon or quitting smoking) and raise funds through sponsorship from colleagues.
Charity Lunch or Breakfast: Host a special meal at the office, with tickets sold in advance. Extra donations can be encouraged on the day.
Walk or Run Event: Organize a 5K run or walk, with participants raising money through sponsorships.
Skill Swap Workshops: Employees offer to teach a skill, from knitting to coding, in small group sessions. Attendees donate to join a session, promoting learning and interaction.

Ideas for individuals

A Month of Good Deeds: By organising a series of events throughout a month, you, your family and your friends can all join in the fundraising. The aim is to do a good deed or act of kindness every day for month, collecting sponsorship.
Book Club: If you're part of a book club, suggest a book on loneliness or connection (see our ideas here). As a one-off charity month, ask for donations from members to join discussions.
Skill-Share Fair: Organise a local event where people donate to teach or learn a new skill, from baking to bike repair, promoting a sense of community and self-reliance.
Take The Plunge: Challenges that involve swimming are great for all ages and all abilities. Organised events such as the Swimathon are becoming more and more popular, and allow people to take to the water to raise money.
Give Up Something You Love: It might not be easy for some, but it should be relatively simple for most people to give up something they enjoy for a month in order to raise some money for charity. This is another option for the creative among you, as you can choose to ditch the thing that you know your supporters will be most surprised you are giving up.
Organise a Performance Evening: Are you part of a local choir or drama company - or just know some talented neighbours? How about hosting a fundraising performance or gala to raise money? This is another great way to bring your community together, and do something really fun and worthwhile at the same time!
Host Your Own Live Stream Event: If you love gaming, this is the challenge for you. Read the guide to setting up your live stream here, then get started with spreading the word with family, friends and followers! If streaming isn't your thing - grab some retro consoles, borrow some TVs, and you’ve got yourself a gaming event. Go all night, and you’ve got a marathon. This fundraising event is great for the whole family.
Set Up a Silent Auction: Gather your friends, family or colleagues and host a silent auction - you could even do this online. Get creative with the auction items. Think about experiences instead of things. Perhaps you have a donor willing to grant access to their holiday home for the weekend, for instance.

Ideas for schools

Art Gallery: Encourage students or staff to create art on a topic (such as loneliness or connection). Display the artwork and charge an entrance fee or sell pieces to parents and community members, with proceeds going to charity.
Connection Challenges: Create daily or weekly challenges that encourage people to connect with others in specific ways, such as complimenting a stranger, reaching out to an old friend, or joining a new club. Participants can raise funds by completing these challenges.
"Unplug to Connect" Day: Challenge people to spend a day without electronic devices, encouraging face-to-face connections instead. Participants raise funds by gaining sponsors for their day offline.
School Carnival: Host a carnival with games, food stalls, and activities, charging entry or selling tickets for different attractions.
Read-a-thon: Students get sponsors to pledge a certain amount of money for every book they read within a set timeframe.
Bake Sale: A classic fundraiser where students, parents, and teachers bake goods to sell.

About the campaign

Brought to you by Marmalade Trust, Loneliness Awareness Week to raises awareness of loneliness and gets people talking about it, across the UK and beyond. Find out how the week started, who gets involved and what it can achieve.

Learn more

"In our cafe, people come in regularly for a coffee, sitting alone. I thought we could push some tables together during the week and create a 'Chatty Table', to encourage people to strike up a conversation. Honestly, it was so heartwarming to see people come together, we'll definitely make it a regular thing! Thanks for the idea Marmalade Trust"

John, cafe owner

Join our social community

Taking part in Loneliness Awareness Week 2024 can be as simple as connecting social media. Share your story with our hashtags: #RandomActsOfConnection #LonelinessAwarenessWeek