Marmalade Trust brings the conversation on youth loneliness to Parliament

In October, Marmalade Trust was proud to contribute to the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Tackling Loneliness and Connected Communities, taking part in a roundtable discussion focused on Youth, Education and Transitions.

Representing the charity, our Chief Operating Officer shared insights from our work and the recent Campaign to End Loneliness Roadshow in Bristol, which Marmalade Trust was delighted to host in September.

Bringing local voices into national conversations

Held at Bristol Beacon, the Roadshow brought together researchers, practitioners, community organisations and people with lived experience to explore how we can create more connected communities.

The programme included research presentations, personal experiences of loneliness, interactive workshops and a panel discussion exploring youth loneliness and the role of education and wider society in addressing it.

A recurring theme was the importance of recognising loneliness not simply as an individual experience, but as something shaped by the environments, services and opportunities around us.

Discussions highlighted the importance of trusted relationships, welcoming community spaces, involving young people in decisions that affect them and providing meaningful support during significant life transitions.

The learning from the Bristol Roadshow is helping to inform the wider APPG inquiry, connecting experiences from local communities with national policy discussions.

Why connection matters when young people enter employment

At the parliamentary roundtable, Marmalade Trust highlighted the importance of considering social connection as young people move from education into employment.

Starting work can bring new opportunities, independence and confidence. But entering an unfamiliar workplace, establishing relationships and finding a sense of belonging can also be challenging.

We believe that supporting young people into employment should go beyond securing a job. It should also consider whether they feel welcomed, included and able to build meaningful connections.

One practical suggestion we shared was a simple connection test for policymakers, employers and organisations to consider:

“Will this decision make it harder for people to connect and belong, or could it help strengthen connection?”

This could influence everything from how employers welcome new starters and support young employees to how services are designed and how communities create opportunities for connection.

Helping shape a more connected future

The APPG inquiry is bringing together parliamentarians, researchers, charities, practitioners and people with lived experience to explore loneliness across different stages of life.

Through regional Roadshows, expert roundtables and wider engagement, the inquiry aims to identify practical ways to strengthen social connection and inform future policy recommendations.

For Marmalade Trust, being part of these conversations is an important opportunity to ensure that loneliness is recognised across the decisions, services and systems that shape people's everyday lives.

We are pleased to be contributing both practical experience and the voices of communities to this national discussion, helping to build a future where connection and belonging are considered essential to everyone's wellbeing.