International perspectives on social connection and loneliness
3rd November 2025
To mark our Befriending Week 2025 theme of Collaboration and Partnerships, our CEO Susan shares how organisations across the world are working together for greater social connection.
Our reach at Befriending Networks is international, with current or past members in the USA, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, and Malaysia. We are always eager to keep informed of developments from around the globe that can inspire our practice and connect us with others.
This Befriending Week, we wanted to share some international collaboration programmes focused on loneliness and social connection that we’ve been engaging with in 2025.
World Health Organisation (WHO) – Commission on Social Connection
Commissioners from around the world have demonstrated focus and leadership in bringing attention to social connection after declaring loneliness as a “global public health concern” in 2023. The Commission published its first report in June 2025 and set out a call for urgent action towards a more connected and healthier world. The report offers insight into loneliness, social isolation and social connection, as well as establishing a framework that countries across the world should adopt. Additionally, at the 78th World Health Assembly, a resolution was passed which urges Member States to develop and implement evidence-based policies, programmes and strategies to raise awareness and promote positive social connection for mental and physical health.
Through our coordinating role in the Scottish Forum for Social Isolation and Loneliness, we have been working alongside our partners to develop a call to action ahead of the Scottish Parliament election in 2026. Our asks are directly informed by the leadership of the WHO commission.
Download the WHO Commission Report (available as a Main Report, Plain Language Summary, and Summary Slidedeck).
Learn more about the details of the Assembly’s resolution on fostering social connection for global health.
IAVE – Volunteering: an antidote to the epidemic of loneliness
In April 2025, we joined with colleagues across the world for a conversation about volunteering being an antidote to loneliness. This particular struck a chord with us, due to the double beneficiaries in befriending – the volunteer and the service user.
The webinar is available on the IAVE YouTube channel. Find out more on the International Association for Volunteer Effort website.
Lonely.EU
This European Union programme of collaboration between EU member states aims to close the gaps in knowledge, data and policies. By bringing together scientists, policy makers, and practitioners, the programme wants to help decision-makers to use solid data and evidence for policies which will reduce social isolation and loneliness.
We’ve signed up to receive updates from Lonely.EU. You can register your interest and keep connected with the development of this cooperation project on the Loneliness in Europe website.
Active and Healthy Ageing in Rural Areas
This year we have been contributing best practice in befriending with partners in Spain, Iceland, and Norway as partners in the Fundacion Diagrama project Active and Healthy Ageing in Rural Areas. We have shared an international survey, participated in a programme workshop, and submitted a written case study featuring three of our member projects in rural Scotland. Joining us on this journey as a partner was another member, Food Train. We have valued the opportunity to reflect and compare practice with other countries. The report and findings of the work are due to be published at the end of 2025.
Learn more about the programme and we will update you further in our monthly Befriending Networks newsletter. You can read our case study submission featuring BHA BeFriend, Caraidean Uibhist and Kincardine and Deeside Befriending.
Quick Links
Some of these organisations and campaigns may already be familiar but we also wanted to include them here.
- Global Intergenerational Week – International
- Campaign to End Loneliness – UK
- Ending Loneliness Together – Australia
- Global Initiative on Loneliness and Connection – International
If you are connected with any international programmes please let us know. We produce a monthly newsletter and three-yearly research round up and are committed to sharing new news with our network of befriending organisations. We would also love to keep the conversation going on the Tackling Loneliness Hub – why not join our Befriending Group or our group supporting the Scottish Forum on Social Isolation and Loneliness?
This blog is part of Befriending Week (1 – 7 November), the annual campaign to raise awareness about befriending and celebrate social connection. Find out more on our Befriending Week microsite.