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<p>Government has engaged closely with the Loneliness Action Group in the development
of, and now implementation of, its loneliness strategy. Defra officials have engaged
with the quarterly Loneliness Action Group meetings, to share updates and hear the
group's views. The Minister for Sport and Civil Society, who leads Government's work
on loneliness, spoke at the Loneliness Action Group conference in May 2019.</p><p>
</p><p>The Government is committed to tackling loneliness in rural areas. Last year
the Minister for Rural Affairs co-hosted a roundtable on rural loneliness with the
Minister for Loneliness.</p><p> </p><p>We share learning and ensure effective implementation
via stakeholder engagement. A rural stakeholder forum, a commitment in the Government’s
loneliness strategy, was held earlier this year, co-hosted by Defra and Action with
Communities in Rural England (ACRE). This was an opportunity for Government to listen
to the challenges faced by rural communities trying to tackle loneliness and for attendees
to share good practice. A further forum will be held in the autumn. The Minister for
Rural Affairs held a smaller, more focused forum earlier this month. These events
are part of ongoing conversations between Government and stakeholders on this important
issue.</p><p> </p>
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