Loneliness Awareness Week: Intergenerational Research Results
- Intergenerational England
- Jun 6
- 3 min read
As we mark Loneliness Awareness Week, we’re proud to share new research conducted in partnership with M.E.L at the end of 2024, alongside findings from our national YouGov poll. Together, they offer timely and powerful insight into how the public views intergenerational connection and where the real opportunities lie to strengthen understanding across age groups. This builds on our report A Divided Kingdom, which explored the growing disconnect between generations, communities, and identities, and made the case for urgent systemic change. In that report, we outlined five key actions to build intergenerational solidarity as a long-term strategy to tackle loneliness, promote social connection, and reshape how we live and relate to one another. Now, with loneliness on the rise and social division deepening, this new data underscores why listening and acting across generations is more vital than ever.
Why intergenerational research matters
Our latest survey of over 1,700 adults across the UK sheds light on how people really feel about mixing across generations in their homes, communities, workplaces and relationships.
It reveals not only that people want intergenerational friendships, but that attitudes towards them vary significantly depending on age, income, ethnicity, and region. It highlights powerful openings in housing, health and workplace culture where stronger intergenerational ties can have real-world impact.
But it also uncovers persistent barriers:
17% say there are no shared spaces where generations can meet.
18% feel they would have nothing in common with people from another age.
People in work say age silos persist, especially in sectors that lack inclusive culture.
In our YouGov, we found that:
47% of UK adults find themselves in contact with 'different generation' people (i.e. face to face) at work
86% of UK adults agree with the statement "Mixing with people of different age groups/ generations can generate mutual respect between generations"
76% of UK adults agree with the statement "Mixing with people of different age groups/ generations can improve our general health and wellbeing"
This research gives us a blueprint to reshape services, policies and partnerships that align with what people actually want and need.
Our ambition is to embed intergenerational connection into the very fabric of society by influencing how we design and deliver housing, community infrastructure, and workplace culture. This means moving away from age-segregated living models and towards integrated, multigenerational housing that encourages natural connections between neighbours of all ages. It means planning communities with shared spaces and inclusive design principles that foster interaction, mutual purpose, and dialogue across generations. In the workplace, we advocate for environments that enable cross-generational collaboration, where younger and older colleagues can share knowledge, challenge assumptions, and innovate together. By embedding these approaches across sectors, we can create the foundations for stronger, more connected communities.
We’re committed to building a national intergenerational framework that:
Centres real people and their lived experience
Crosses sectors from housing and health to business and culture
Tackles loneliness at its root, focussing on prevention across the life course
And builds intergenerational solidarity in a way that’s organic, local, and sustainable
Because the more we understand how people see the world the better we can create the conditions for connection that feels natural, not forced.
As we continue this work, we invite partners, funders, researchers, and communities to join us in co-creating the future of intergenerational Britain.
You can view our full research findings here.
