Housing associations launch new partnership to open 100 ‘Public Living Rooms’ across England to tackle loneliness
Public Living Rooms provide informal, welcoming spaces where people can drop in, spend time together and feel part of something.
Clarion Futures, the charitable foundation of Clarion Housing Group, has partnered with Peabody, SNG (Sovereign Network Group) and grassroots social movement Camerados to work alongside communities to collectively tackle loneliness, isolation and division - backed by £228,000 of funding from the Fusion21 Foundation.
Last week the partnership celebrated the launch of the two-year project across England by creating three pop-up Public Living Rooms in Hackney, Bow and Dalston in East London. The spaces brought together residents, partners and community leaders to celebrate the power of connection and conversation.
Public Living Rooms provide informal, welcoming spaces where people can drop in, spend time together and feel part of something – without referrals, assessments or formal support. They look and feel exactly like the name suggests: some will have sofas, hot drinks, music playing, board games on the table – always friendly, informal and open to everyone.
Half of the new Public Living Rooms are being delivered by SNG, Clarion and Peabody. The remaining spaces will be created in partnership with other Fusion21 member housing associations as the project progresses. Public Living Rooms will be opening their doors in shopping centres, community centres, high streets, parks, open spaces and cafés across the country.
With loneliness increasingly recognised as a public health issue – exacerbated by pressures on public services – and division in communities becoming more prevalent, Public Living Rooms offer a simple but powerful response, helping rebuild everyday connection one conversation at a time.
Rather than attempting to “fix” problems or redirect residents into stretched services, Public Living Rooms focus on cohesion, mutual support, connection and trust. Anyone can come in, make a cup of tea, sit quietly or strike up a conversation.
Phil Miles, Director of Clarion Futures (the charitable foundation of Clarion Housing Group), said:
“Loneliness is a growing public health issue, but the most effective responses are often the simplest. Public Living Rooms are about open doors, shared space and building genuine connection – all of which are vital to reducing isolation.
“This programme reflects the priorities set out in Clarion’s 5 New Giants report, which identifies the challenges facing society today and highlights the importance of preventative, community-led approaches that build cohesion, trust and everyday wellbeing, and we’re proud to be part of it.”
A spokesperson for the Association of Camerados said:
“We are launching a very exciting partnership between three of the largest housing associations in the country – Clarion, SNG, Peabody – and the Camerados movement. Adding to the great work these three housing providers already do in their communities, with thanks to support from the Fusion21 Foundation who funded the project.
“The Association of Camerados will work alongside community teams within these housing associations and at street-level with the people who know their community best – the residents, to create 100 public living rooms in 100 neighbourhoods across the UK. In these spaces people can connect with no agenda and get a bit of company, across all divides and disagreements, just to have each other's backs and beat isolation. This is not a fixing space but a human one, where we can remember the best thing to do with our day is to connect with others. It sounds so obvious yet is so rare and missing in our communities.”
Jo Hannan, Head of the Fusion21 Foundation, said:
“The Fusion21 Foundation is proud to support a test and learn approach to preventative, community-led responses to social challenges. Public Living Rooms reflect the importance of investing in accessible, everyday spaces that enable communities to thrive in their own way, and we hope this work provides learning for the wider housing sector as it continues to strengthen community wellbeing and connection.”
SNG, Peabody, Clarion and the Fusion21 Foundation hope the initiative will encourage wider discussion across the housing sector about the role of informal spaces, preventative approaches and trust-based community support.
To find out more about Public Living Rooms, visit www.camerados.org