The impact of isolation and loneliness on mortality has been estimated to be equivalent to smoking 15 cigarettes a day.
The Reconnections Social Impact Bond (SIB) aims to directly reduce loneliness and isolation for 3,000 people over the age of 50 in Worcestershire. Reconnections is the first SIB in England aimed at reducing loneliness and social isolation. Worcestershire County Council (WCC) with three co-commissioners from Clinical Commissioning Groups commissioned Reconnections, Nesta is the main funder and Age UK Herefordshire and Worcestershire is the main provider for the SIB. The SIB facilitates access to services to reconnect these individuals with their communities to reduce loneliness. The improved health and wellbeing of beneficiaries is expected to deliver more than £3 million worth of savings to the public sector over 15 years. The maximum amount of outcome payments attached to the SIB is £2 million based around a key payment outcome of an improvement in levels of loneliness.