{"id":11996,"date":"2026-09-21T18:00:39","date_gmt":"2026-09-21T17:00:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.charityjob.co.uk\/careeradvice\/?p=11996"},"modified":"2026-09-21T18:16:19","modified_gmt":"2026-09-21T17:16:19","slug":"can-volunteering-combat-loneliness","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.charityjob.co.uk\/careeradvice\/can-volunteering-combat-loneliness\/","title":{"rendered":"How Volunteering Can Help Combat Loneliness"},"content":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":201,"featured_media":11998,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[9152,4],"tags":[9147,167],"class_list":["post-11996","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-benefits-of-volunteering","category-volunteering","tag-mental-health-and-wellbeing","tag-volunteer"],"acf":{"job_search_bottom_form":false,"image":11998,"background":11998,"excerpt":"Did you know that\u00a0almost a fifth of the British population is struggling to combat loneliness and isolation? Volunteering is a great way to make friends and be part of your community. But can it help combat loneliness? Let's find out.","contenttypes":[{"acf_fc_layout":"text_content","menu_title":"","content":"Did you know that one in five adults lack companionship, or feels left out and isolated? That\u2019s where activities like volunteering can help. By surrounding yourself with people who share your passion and enthusiasm for a cause, you\u2019ll create opportunities to build vital lasting connections. Not totally convinced? Let\u2019s explore the importance of combating loneliness, and some of the ways volunteering can help you achieve this.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;"},{"acf_fc_layout":"text_content","menu_title":"The science behind loneliness","content":"<h2><strong>The science behind loneliness\r\n<\/strong><\/h2>\r\nAccording to a study of 135,000 people led by researchers at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.imperial.ac.uk\/news\/articles\/2026\/one-in-six-adults-in-england-report-persistent-loneliness-major-study-finds-\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Imperial College London<\/a>, one in six adults in England reported feeling lonely \u201coften or always\u201d, while one in five frequently lack companionship. Meanwhile,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.who.int\/news\/item\/30-06-2025-social-connection-linked-to-improved-heath-and-reduced-risk-of-early-death\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The World Health Organization <\/a>has declared loneliness to be a global public health problem, as loneliness and social isolation are known to have a significant impact on both mental and physical health. Estimating that loneliness is linked to around 871,000 deaths internationally every year, risks include strokes, heart disease, diabetes, cognitive decline, depression, anxiety and suicidal thoughts.\r\n\r\nThe report offers many recommendations, but one key suggestion stood out to CharityJob, as they said \u201c\u2026each person can make a difference through simple, everyday steps\u2014like reaching out to a friend in need, putting away one\u2019s phone to be fully present in conversation, greeting a neighbor, joining a local group, or volunteering.\u201d\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[button text=\"Combat loneliness by volunteering\" url=\" https:\/\/www.charityjob.co.uk\/volunteer-jobs\/\" style=\"blue-lined\" size=\"large\" align=\"center\" new_window=\u201d1\u2033]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;"},{"acf_fc_layout":"text_content","menu_title":"","content":"<h2><strong>Let\u2019s take a closer look at how you can combat loneliness by volunteering <\/strong><\/h2>\r\n&nbsp;"},{"acf_fc_layout":"text_content","menu_title":"Volunteering is good for your health","content":"<h3><strong>1.\u00a0Volunteering is good for your health<\/strong><\/h3>\r\nVolunteering is a scientifically proven mood-booster. For years, we\u2019ve been aware of the physiological as well as psychological effects that helping others has on the body. Charitable acts spark a release of dopamine commonly known as the \u2018helper\u2019s high\u2019.\r\n\r\nWhere loneliness inflicts chronic stress on the body, volunteering actively reduces it. In fact, many\u00a0people who go out of their way to do good <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/science\/article\/abs\/pii\/S0018506X13000202\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">experience considerably less stress<\/a> and stress-related illnesses.\r\n\r\nNone of these facts should come as a surprise. Volunteering presents the rare occasion for you to throw yourself into a cause you care deeply about, meet like-minded people and see the tangible results of your actions shaping the world for the better."},{"acf_fc_layout":"single_image","menu_title":"","image":12001,"image_link":"","image_link_new_tab":false},{"acf_fc_layout":"text_content","menu_title":"Young people benefit from volunteering","content":"<h3><strong>2. Young people benefit from volunteering<\/strong><\/h3>\r\nIt would be na\u00efve to think that loneliness only affects an ageing population. According to research by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.charitytoday.co.uk\/marmalade-trust-release-new-research-about-gen-z-and-loneliness\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">the Marmalade Trust <\/a>into Gen Z (those born between 1997 and 2012):\r\n\r\n- Nearly two-thirds (67%) say they feel lonely at least once a week\r\n- 28% feel lonely several times a day\r\n- 48% say social media makes them feel lonelier\r\n- One in four admits that they find it easier to talk to an AI chatbot than a real person.\r\n\r\nThe Marmalade Trust research suggests there\u2019s a real risk that social skills are being replaced with digital aids. This is where volunteering fills a much-needed space, as it can do wonders for teens and young people looking to build better social skills, while also adding useful experience to their CVs!\u00a0In short, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.charityjob.co.uk\/careeradvice\/volunteering-while-studying\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">combining volunteering with studying<\/a> can help boost a young person\u2019s confidence and open up new friendship circles. For others later in life - such as new parents and mid-lifers - volunteering can serve as a great catalyst for connection for when you\u2019re in a new environment, when you're looking for a community, or if you simply want more intimate local friendships."},{"acf_fc_layout":"text_content","menu_title":"Volunteering combats loneliness in retirees","content":"<h3><strong>\r\n3. Volunteering is great way to combat loneliness for retirees<\/strong><\/h3>\r\nAs many hard-working befriending charities confirm, social isolation amongst the elderly still remains widespread, and combating loneliness is a real problem. According to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ons.gov.uk\/peoplepopulationandcommunity\/birthsdeathsandmarriages\/families\/bulletins\/familiesandhouseholds\/2025\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Office for National Statistics<\/a>, 8.6 million people live alone in the UK, with 49.6% of these aged over 65. That\u2019s why having a sense of community is so important, and volunteering can offer that for many people long into their retirement years.\r\n\r\nVolunteering is an opportunity to stimulate both your body and your mind, and it\u2019s been shown to ward off degenerative diseases such as Alzheimer\u2019s and functional decline, both of which are listed under long-term effects of loneliness.\r\n\r\nWhat\u2019s more, volunteering presents the occasion for more inter-generational friendships and gives people a new-found sense of purpose when they\u2019re suddenly faced with limited opportunities to be social. Above all, it creates new social networks for those who wouldn\u2019t otherwise be part of a community."},{"acf_fc_layout":"single_image","menu_title":"","image":11997,"image_link":"","image_link_new_tab":false},{"acf_fc_layout":"text_content","menu_title":"Volunteering will help you gain confidence ","content":"<h3><strong>4. Gain confidence to combat loneliness<\/strong><\/h3>\r\nIf you\u2019re lonely, it can feel like a real struggle to introduce yourself to new people. But charity volunteering is a great way to ease yourself into social situations where you\u2019ll automatically start interacting with other people. Whether you\u2019re offering to make tea at a community caf\u00e9, sorting out donations in a food bank or doing some <a href=\"https:\/\/www.charityjob.co.uk\/careeradvice\/volunteers\/volunteer-fundraiser-guide\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">volunteer fundraising<\/a> for a local charity, you\u2019ll inevitably find yourself chatting with the people around you. And bit by bit, your confidence will have the chance to grow.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;"},{"acf_fc_layout":"text_content","menu_title":"Find your next charity volunteering role","content":"<h2><strong>Find your next charity volunteering role<\/strong><\/h2>\r\nVolunteering could well be the next wonder drug in combating loneliness, so make sure you choose a cause that you\u2019re passionate about, and that fits with your lifestyle.\r\n\r\nAt CharityJob, we know the immense value that volunteers offer to charities of all sizes. There are tons of causes that are trailblazing change in the world and could do with your help, so take a look at the huge array of opportunities available. You\u2019re bound to find something you\u2019d enjoy rolling your sleeves up for!\r\n\r\n[button text=\"Find a charity volunteering opportunity\" url=\"https:\/\/www.charityjob.co.uk\/volunteer-jobs\" style=\"blue-lined\" size=\"large\" align=\"center\" new_window=\u201d1\u2033]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<em>This post was originally published in 2020, then updated in 2023. It has been updated again to ensure relevance and to reflect the current job seeker experience.<\/em>"}],"keyword":"volunteer","related_articles":[{"article":6687},{"article":10391},{"article":5111}]},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v28.6 (Yoast SEO v28.6) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>How Volunteering Can Help Combat Loneliness | CharityJob Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Volunteering is a great way to make friends and be part of your community. But can it help combat loneliness? 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