The Power of Connection: Could Community Clubs Be the Cure for Britain’s Growing Loneliness Crisis?
Over half a million more people in the UK are reportedly experiencing loneliness now than during the 2020 pandemic, but could a community group boom be the key to reconnection?
Monthly global search interest in “community groups” rises by 50.6%, with a 33.3% increase in the UK compared to the same period post-pandemic, specialist insurance broker Lexham Insurance has found. The company’s new research highlights the surge in interest for clubs and their wellness benefits, amid reports of a failing mental healthcare system:
- Searches for “community groups” peak globally each spring, with 232,000 monthly searches worldwide and 33,000 in the UK. Over the past year, global interest has grown by 15%, while UK searches have seen a 5% increase.
- Yelp recently shared that people are using its platform to find local group activities, revealing that social clubs are trending, with interest in everything from chess clubs (up 47%) to run clubs (up 82%) spiking.
The rising popularity of community groups correlates to a growing demand for mental health support in the UK, with searches for “mental health support” increasing by 8% over the past year to 277,000 monthly – a 53.3% surge since 2020. Globally, searches now total 451,000 per month.
Aligning to a recent study, Lexham found that some of the most popular clubs people are interested in joining include sports, arts and motorcycling:
| UK search volume changes over the last five years, compared to the preceding period | |
| Volleyball clubs near me – a breakout trend (at least a 5,000% increase) | Biker clubs near me +300% |
| Art clubs near me +750% | Local motorcycle clubs near me +250% |
| Tennis clubs near me +450% | Football clubs near me +200% |
| Book clubs near me +400% | Running clubs near me +130% |
In the last year, searches for ‘walking groups near me’ and ‘football clubs near me’ have been popularised. Global data also reveals a 250% spike in interest for ‘pickleball’ and ‘pickleball near me’.
To discuss the wellness benefits gained from being part of a community group, Lexham spoke to Paul Oxborough, Founder and Chairperson at Mental Health Motorbike, a charity dedicated to growing the greater well-being of the motorcycling community.
“Being part of a community like a motorcycle club or group can give a sense of purpose, identity and allow you to share common interests. It allows you to do things together and feel part of a team which is very good for self-esteem and personal confidence”, Paul shares.
Supporting this, a BRIMBO motorcycle club member confides how being part of the community has impacted their well-being, “Personally, when a grey cloud is following me, after a club meeting or ride out, the sky is clear as is my mind. People are not meant to be solitary souls.”
The opportunity to connect is especially crucial for men, who are less likely to access psychological therapies, making up just 36% of NHS talking therapy referrals. Men in the UK are also three times more likely to die by suicide than women.
“The beauty of motorcycle groups is that there will always be a meet-up and a chance to have a cuppa together”, Paul continues. In the last five years, there has been a 300% spike in UK searches for “biker clubs near me” and a 250% increase in “local motorcycle clubs near me”. Data from AlsoAsked shows that searches are centred around ways to connect with others in the community in addition to a growing interest in apps to help build these connections.
Apps like Bumble and Match are launching friend-finding features, offering new ways for adults to build friendships as UK searches for ‘online communities to join’ increased by 200% in five years, illustrating how technology is driving virtual connections.