Volunteering: An Antidote to the Epidemic of Loneliness
Loneliness is on the rise worldwide, with 25% more Americans feeling isolated today than before the pandemic. The World Health Organization has even recognized loneliness as a global public health concern, linking it to higher risks of depression, heart disease, and early death—comparable to the dangers of smoking or obesity. But there is hope: volunteering has emerged as a powerful, yet often overlooked, solution. Volunteers play an important role in bolstering social connections and adding to the safety net that helps people feel cared for. In delivering services and solutions to problems, they also provide a sense of optimism and hope and create a visible pathway for others to engage.
Join our upcoming webinar to discover expert insights and proven programs that have been developed to combat loneliness. Register now to learn how you adopt and scale these inspiring practices for your organization!
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Speakers
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Andrea WigfieldDirector, Centre for Loneliness Studies, Sheffield Hallam UniversityAndrea Wigfield is Professor of Applied Social and Policy Research at Sheffield Hallam University, where she is Director of the Centre for Loneliness Studies and Co-director of the Campaign to End Loneliness. She is a leading researcher on loneliness and social isolation, specializing in the wider social determinants and implications through research, program evaluation, and evidence based policy and practice. The key principles which guide her work are academic rigor and research which is policy driven and leads to impact and change. Many aspects of her research focus on co-production involving all key partners in the research process, including ‘experts by experience’. Andrea has spearheaded interdisciplinary research collaboration and established strong networks in both academia and with external stakeholders in the public, private and voluntary sectors. Andrea has been awarded research funding of almost £13 million and has published over 50 books, chapters, articles, and reports, and worked on almost 100 externally funded research projects.
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Asha CurranCEO, GivingTuesdayAsha Curran is CEO of GivingTuesday. She serves as Chair of the Board of Guardian.org, as a Board member of the Resource Alliance, and as Advisory Committee Co-Chair for the Belfer Center for Innovation & Social Impact at the 92nd Street Y, where she was formerly Chief Innovation Officer. She is a Fellow at Stanford University’s Center for Philanthropy and Civil Society, a Marla and Barry Beck Visiting Social Innovator at the Social Innovation and Change Initiative at the Harvard Kennedy School, and a Fellow at the Saïd Business School at the University of Oxford. Asha was named to the Nonprofit Times’ Top Fifty Power and Influence list annually 2019 through 2024, when she was also honored as Influencer of the Year.
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Casper Bo DanøCEO, FriSeCasper Bo Danø, CEO of FriSe (Volunteer Centers and Peer Groups Denmark) specializes in social entrepreneurship and leadership. He promotes civil society and community engagement in Denmark, leading a network supporting 70 local volunteer centers. His role includes strategic direction, policy development, and innovative tech solutions. Casper holds a Master’s Degree in Social Entrepreneurship from Roskilde University and a Master’s in History and French from Aarhus University. He is involved in various professional affiliations and board positions. Casper’s work effectively bridges policy, research, and practical application within the nonprofit sector, driving meaningful community impact and fostering volunteerism.
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Lejla Šehić RelićPresident, Centre for European VolunteeringLejla Šehić Relić has been a dedicated social activist since 1993, the founder and CEO of the organization for social development DKolektiv and leads the National Volunteer Development Centre. Since 2019, she has served as the President of the Center for European Volunteering (CEV), a network of over 60 organizations across Europe. Holding a degree in public administration, specializing in social innovation Lejla has shaped policies and practices in Croatian and European civil society for over two decades. She has co-authored several publications on volunteering and community development and was a laureate of an award for promoting peace making, nonviolence and human rights in Croatia in 2020.
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Nichole CirilloExecutive Director, IAVENichole Cirillo is the Executive Director of IAVE – International Association for Volunteer Effort. Nichole has significant executive experience across environmental and social justice sectors and has led the engagement of a large network of global volunteers. Her roles have included Mission Director/Head of PR at Stonyfield Organics, International Director of Learning at Earthwatch, Senior Manager, Outreach and Mobilization at Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC) and Executive Director at Friends of the Public Garden and Boston Common.