‘Amazing community’: how people are making new friends and connections as adults

The Guardian World Thursday 17 September 2026, 13:53 UTC By Nicola Slawson and Jane Clinton 1 min read

Key Points

As concern about loneliness and social isolation grows, we spoke to people who have joined groups and set up activitiesAmid growing concern about loneliness and social isolation, new research from the Institute for Public Policy Research found the number of young people in England with no close friends has risen fivefold since 2014, with one in 20 now reporting having none at all. Making new friends as an adult is not always easy. We spoke to people who have taken deliberate steps to make...

As concern about loneliness and social isolation grows, we spoke to people who have joined groups and set up activities

Amid growing concern about loneliness and social isolation, new research from the Institute for Public Policy Research found the number of young people in England with no close friends has risen fivefold since 2014, with one in 20 now reporting having none at all.

Making new friends as an adult is not always easy. We spoke to people who have taken deliberate steps to make new connections about what worked for them.

the Institute for Public Policy Research (ORG) England (LOCATION)

Originally published by The Guardian World Read original →

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‘Amazing community’: how people are making new friends and connections as adults

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