When we think of loneliness we are often guilty of resorting to stereotypes of the elderly, housebound or someone who recently lost their partner.
Yet children can also feel disconnected from society, despite seemingly having many friends on social media, especially since the pandemic interrupted their education.
What are the statistics on loneliness?
Even before Covid, the Office of National Statistics showed that around one in ten (11.3 per cent) of children aged between ten to 15 said they ‘often’ felt lonely. This was more common among younger children aged 10 to 12 years (14 per cent) than among those aged 13 to 15 years (8.6 per cent).
Rather shockingly, over one quarter (27.5 per cent) of children who received free school meals said they were ‘often’ lonely, compared with 5.5 per cent of those who did not.
However, the UK isn’t alone. Loneliness among adolescents especially is a global problem, according to a worldwide survey by the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA).
PISA’s 2021 survey revealed loneliness at school increased in 36 out of 37 countries between 2012 and 2018 among 15- to 16-year-olds. And twice as many adolescents in 2018 compared to 2012 had higher levels of school loneliness.
University College London (UCL) is now working on a national four-year programme with 30 schools to combat loneliness among children aged ten to 15 using ‘social prescribing’ to discover children’s interests and encourage them to try gardening, arts, sports and other activities.
Creating a sense of belonging
Not unsurprisingly, PISA’s 2022 survey found that students feel less lonely at school and make friends more easily in education systems where students have a greater sense of belonging at school.
The survey revealed that on average across OECD countries, all students' sense of belonging at school deteriorated between 2018 and 2022 and was worse for disadvantaged students.
This group of students were more likely than their advantaged peers to report feeling they have fewer opportunities to form close bonds at school and with peers.
Strong friendships encourage strong academic performance
There are plenty of studies showing that strong social links and friendships can improve students' academic success and improve emotional wellbeing, both top priorities for schools.
The most recent was a review of studies across the world published in US journal Cureus in 2023 The Benefits of Friendships in Academic Settings: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
The report found that friendships are fundamental support systems that encourage collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and motivation among students, ultimately contributing to improved academic performance.
It concluded that ‘the wealth of evidence supports the notion that friendships are not just a social aspect of education but a critical factor in students' overall academic experience’.
Dining canopies foster new friendships
Schools can go a long in helping children find a sense of belonging and community by creating the time and space to encourage students to socialise and make friends.
Dining canopies have proved to be a massive bonus for schools struggling for space, helping them to stagger lunch times, reduce overcrowding and giving children the chance to socialise and mix with other year groups.
They provide opportunities for students to enjoy fresh air and nature at the same time as eating their lunch and potentially improving their overall wellbeing and concentration.
Our Spaceshade canopies can also be used for outdoor classrooms for science and biology projects like gardening.
Cheaper and quicker than traditional buildings
Outdoor dining canopies are up to three times cheaper than building a traditional extension and can be installed at the fraction of the time. Their modular and stylish designs also mean they can be erected in hard-to-access areas and courtyards as they don’t need heavy equipment to install them.
Our canopies are also very flexible and can be open on three sides or enclosed with side walls with heating and lightning. In addition, they can be fitted with retractable blinds providing protection from the sun while still being able to enjoy the view outside.
Best of all, unlike other systems on the market, our dining canopies are designed to accommodate solar panels which can be installed with the canopy or retrofitted to suit your finances and needs.
If you’d like more details about what our Spaceshade dining canopies can offer, contact us today.
