NALC urges the Conservatives to support local councils in tackling loneliness

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) has urged the Conservative Party to provide support to help the 10,000 local (parish and town) councils in England to tackle loneliness and isolation.

NALC attended a fringe event at the conference on loneliness. Damian Green MP (former first secretary of state) and Cllr David Simmonds (deputy chairman of the Local Government Association (LGA)) spoke on the crucial role local government play in reducing loneliness and isolation in rural and urban areas.

In October 2018, the government published its first Loneliness Strategy. NALC submitted evidence on this which including case studies highlighting the full range of activities local councils offered such as events, transport, local facilities, and youth services.

Cllr Sue Baxter, chairman of NALC, said: "The government's Loneliness Strategy acknowledges that all sectors (public, private and social) have a part to play in supporting their communities in tackling loneliness.

"NALC is pleased to be working with government and the LGA to share learning and good practice. As an essential first step, we will be launching new joint guidance with the LGA at the NALC Annual Conference. However, this is just the first step. Local councils must have access to funding, and much needed additional support to help them do more.

I look forward to discussing this with ministers in the coming weeks."