Befriending Networks and Befrienders Highland launch Highlands Conference report

8th April 2026

The motivation for holding a conference on social isolation and loneliness in the Highlands came when Befrienders Highland was asked to sign the Manifesto for Social Connection in Scotland by Befriending Networks last December.  With the Scottish Parliament elections coming up and the need for a new Scottish Government strategy to tackle social isolation and loneliness, we wanted to make sure the issue was kept on the public agenda and that the particular challenges facing remote and rural areas were better understood and were part of this debate.  We thought that Befrienders Highland would struggle to make such a conference happen on our own, so who better to approach than Befriending Networks to see if they were interested in joining us.

They were – and the enthusiasm and energy Befriending Networks has brought to the process has made it an absolute joy to make the event happen – and in a very tight timescale to boot!

We had shared objectives for the event:

• To increase the profile of social isolation and loneliness in the Highlands with all stakeholders.
• To bring together groups and organisations in the Highlands who are working to reduce social isolation and loneliness, and to build understanding of what others are doing and build connections between them.
• To use recent data on social isolation and loneliness in the Highlands to encourage action to support public health outcomes and improve joint working across different sectors.
• To bring a range of different stakeholders to the discussion to increase understanding of the impact of befriending interventions and stimulate support for further investment in befriending.

One of the challenges in working in the Highlands is bringing people together for face to face meetings so Befrienders Highlands were keen that the conference agenda would be enough of an encouragement to bring people from all over our region.  The area covers Cape Wrath to Ardnamurchan, Thurso to Kingussie, with Inverness in the centre, so includes the very remote communities in Wester Ross and Sutherland and the much more urban ones of Inverness and pretty much everything in between.

Our registration process sold out in just a few weeks and we had over 50 people on the day who came from all over to discuss, explore, explain and develop ideas for action and then make recommendations for change.  We were delighted that the Director of Public Health for NHS Highland, Jennifer Davies, was keen to present and the Minister for Equalities, Kaukab Stewart MSP gave us some recorded input on a video made by the Scottish Government and coordinated by Befriending Networks.  The panel session of Befrienders Highland volunteers, chaired by Befriending Networks CEO, Susan Hunter, was particularly well-received as their obvious pleasure and enthusiasm for the contribution they make was infectious and uplifting.

One of the highlights of the day for me was just being in the company of people who care about social isolation and loneliness and are working on helping people regain their connection to their communities and have a better life.  The recommendations for action reflect that care and passion to see change. 

The report we have created here is a summary of the discussions held and the common themes that emerged from the discussions.  It makes for interesting reading so do let us know your views.  We’ll be sharing this report widely and following up on the recommendations in the coming weeks and months.  Do keep in touch and watch this space for future developments!

Contact Judith Robertson, Executive Director of Befrienders Highland.