At WaveLength, we are continually aware of the common misconceptions surrounding loneliness. The issue has long been associated with older generations, epitomised by heart-wrenching Christmas campaigns, and yet, young people today (16-24) are unfortunately among the hardest hit. Our support is open to anyone experiencing loneliness and isolation, rather than restricted to a specific age group or demographic. But with our newer initiative, Soup for the Soul, based on the simple premise of cooking and eating together, the idea has been to directly help students while supporting the wider Cambridge community.
Why students? - While university no doubt provides great opportunities to socialise and make friends, research commissioned by the UK government in 2023 found that loneliness is experienced by almost all students (92%), and nearing half (43%) worry about judgment when sharing this feeling. These high levels remain prevalent today; a more recent 2025 survey conducted by the Higher Education Policy Institute found that over 60% of students felt lonely at least once a week.
Fear of judgement is heightened within the student body; while not limited to young people, the dramatic transition to university can exacerbate feelings of stress and anxiety. Our event involved community members to frame the activity as community service rather than a self-serving exercise, even though everyone involved can benefit significantly.
So, on 4th November, we held our first event; members of the community and the student body cooking tomato soup together! The session provided an open space for individuals to talk and share stories, while the activity of preparing and eating a meal gave the group a shared purpose and a sense of accomplishment.
The positive impact of Soup for the Soul has reinforced our commitment to early intervention, inspiring us to explore new preventative projects. Engaging with the younger generation in this way provides an outlet to do good in the community, meet new people and reduce feelings of loneliness. Going forward, we are planning to run the event on a fortnightly basis, creating a self-sustaining community of like-minded volunteers to lead it!
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Department for Education. (2023, September 19). New government research shows ‘lonely’ seems to be the hardest word for students. GOV.UK. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-government-research-shows-lonely-seems-to-be-the-hardest-word-for-students
HEPI & Advance HE. (2025). Student Academic Experience Survey 2025. Higher Education Policy Institute.