As the programme marks its second anniversary, colleagues across the business continue to give their time, energy and compassion to support local communities, helping create opportunities for people of all ages to connect, build friendships and feel part of something bigger.

Supporting connection where it matters most

Loneliness can affect anyone, at any stage of life. Through partnerships with charities, community groups and local organisations, colleagues have been helping create spaces where people can come together, share experiences and build meaningful connections.

One of the programme's flagship partnerships is with UK Youth. Through the second year of the partnership, National Gas has now supported 263 young people to take part in Adventure Away Days near four operational sites across the country. These experiences help young people build confidence, develop relationships and access opportunities they may not otherwise have experienced.

A royal day out at Balmoral

For many attendees, a recent community trip to Balmoral Castle was far more than a day out.

Several participants had never visited before, despite it being something they had wanted to do for years. The trip gave people the chance to spend time together, enjoy the grounds and create lasting memories.

One attendee described it as a day they would never forget. The visit was organised by Diane Willox, helping make a long-held ambition a reality for members of the local community.

Bringing generations together in Bedfordshire

Community spirit was also on display in Bedfordshire, where the Bedfordshire Caribbean Senior Citizens Association hosted a special community dinner supported by National Gas colleague Andrew Lumb.

The event welcomed 58 attendees for an afternoon of food, conversation and connection. Alongside providing support and prizes, Andrew helped create an event that celebrated community and brought people together across generations.

Creating welcoming spaces closer to home

Sometimes the smallest gatherings can make the biggest difference.

In Derbyshire, regular coffee mornings organised by Cerys Lowe in partnership with Bluebox Belper have provided a welcoming environment for local people to meet new faces, enjoy conversation and build friendships.

Meanwhile in Dumfries, Gemma Robertson relaunched a Friendship Brunch that sold out within minutes. The event brought together 21 adults and 19 children, including single parents, grandparents, new adoptive parents and people who were new to the area.

What united everyone was a shared desire for connection and community.

Creating moments that matter

One of the most memorable stories from this quarter came from a community bingo event in Scotland. 

A regular attendee won a Kindle as the top prize and shared that his previous device had recently stopped working. He had been looking for a way to replace it but had been unable to do so. Creating moments that matter

While simple, moments like these highlight what the Tackling Loneliness initiative is really about: creating joy, belonging and connection within local communities.

Making a lasting impact

Since launching two years ago, the Tackling Loneliness programme has: 

• Delivered 105 community events 
• Engaged 4,244 community members 
• Involved 989 colleagues 
• Generated more than 2,240 volunteering hours

These figures represent thousands of conversations, friendships and moments of connection made possible through the dedication of colleagues, charity partners and community organisations across the UK.

As the initiative enters its third year, that shared commitment remains unchanged: helping build stronger, more connected communities, one conversation at a time.