What’s the problem?
Feeling alone can have a serious impact on your health and wellbeing – it’s compared to the equivalent of smoking 15 cigarettes a day.
Not only can it lead to detrimental physical health conditions, such as a weakened immune system, heart disease and dementia, but it’s also linked to depression and anxiety.
And in the most severe cases, loneliness can cause thoughts of self-harm and suicide. Loneliness doesn’t discriminate and it can hit people when they least expect it.
Something you’ll find is it happens around life’s biggest milestones like starting university, becoming a parent, getting divorced, or retiring.
@redcross.org.uk 1 in 5 people in the UK are experiencing loneliness.
Bringing people closer
There’s nothing quite like the feeling of togetherness that football brings - cheering in the stands with lifelong fans, watching from the sofa with friends, or celebrating an unforgettable goal in front of a big screen.
The game unites us and we know how good it feels to be together. That’s why we’re thrilled that the British Red Cross is the EFL’s official charity partner for the next two seasons, with the aim of supporting people with loneliness.
Both of our organisations recognise the scale of the problem, and the impact loneliness is having on people’s lives. We can club together and make a real difference.
Through our partnership, we’ll bring people together through the beautiful game – using the power of football to unite against loneliness.
Over the next two seasons, we’ll work side by side with 72 EFL clubs and their communities to offer more support to those who need it most.
As you will have seen, EFL players will also proudly wear our British Red Cross logo on the back of every shirt in the Sky Bet Championship, League One and League Two.
Let’s club together.
@BritishRedCross on Twitter.