In a report Jen Banks writes in ICA’s Coop News that the Co-op Group and its charity the Co-op Foundation are making big strides in supporting the country’s young people – with the Group raising more than £5.4 million for youth organisations in just under two years, and a new report from the Foundation urging the youth sector to do more to tackle loneliness.
The report, A Place to Belong, is the result of research funded by the Co-op Foundation, published by charity UK Youth. Based on data collected from youth workers across the country, it found that loneliness is common among young people – and they face barriers when talking about feeling lonely.
Local youth organisations can play a key role in tackling the problem, the report adds, but there is a need for a clear overall strategy.
Jim Cooke, head of the Co-op Foundation, said: “Youth organisations are an important line of defence in tackling loneliness, but this research shows they face challenges that affect their ability to support young people as effectively as they would like.