Research into young people’s loneliness and social isolation (£20 voucher)

Published on: October 22, 2026

Are you aged 16–24 years and live in or near Southend?

Do you feel lonely or cut off from others?

The University of Essex is looking for people to take part in research about their experiences.

Participants will receive a £20 voucher per workshop/interview to thank them for their time.

What does the research involve?

You can choose how you take part:

Photovoice: Creative group research where you’ll take photographs representing your experiences and discuss them in workshops with other young people.
Interview: Take part in an interview, either online or in person, focusing on your experiences of loneliness, isolation, belonging and how these relate to mental health.

Who is doing the research and why?

The research is being carried out by a mental health research team at the University of Essex.

Findings will be used to develop solutions to loneliness and improve support for young people.

The research has been approved by the University of Essex ethics committee (ETH 2526-0992).

Contact details