Loneliness affects millions across the UK. 3.1 million adults feel lonely often or always, costing the NHS an estimated £850 per person each year, around £2.6bn in total, and linked to a 29% higher risk of coronary heart disease and a 32% higher risk of stroke.

Social prescribing connects people to community activities and support, alongside medical care, to improve health and wellbeing. A two-year government pilot referred over 8,500 people to nature-based activities, achieving an 85% uptake rate and delivering £2.42 of social value for every £1 invested. Yet we believe provision remains patchy and underfunded. We ask the Government to review funding for social prescribing, including a 10-year £1bn Shared Investment Fund across all 42 Integrated Care Systems, as proposed by NASP, so people can access meaningful human connection before reaching a crisis point.