Promoting Social Connectedness Through Food

Promoting Social Connectedness Through Food presents food-centred evidence and case studies to contribute to practical knowledge on how government and non-government actors can work together to boost opportunities and spaces for connection within communities. As loneliness and social isolation rise on the policy agenda, the report focuses on how growing, preparing, and eating food with others can provide accessible and adaptable ways to improve connectedness among people alongside broader well-being outcomes, including for populations facing greater barriers to social participation (such as elderly or socio-economically disadvantaged people). The report also draws insights for well-designed programme implementation to combat loneliness and isolation – with relevance for food-based activities and beyond – such as volunteer support, models for cross-sector collaboration and the need for robust evaluation evidence.