RSPCA Hull & East Riding champions volunteering, rehoming, and community connection to reduce loneliness across the region.
We are proud to support Loneliness Awareness Week 2025, a national campaign led by the Marmalade Trust to reduce the stigma around loneliness — a universal but often hidden human experience.
Running from 9 to 15 June, this year’s theme, “Meeting Loneliness Together”, encourages people to talk more openly about feeling lonely and take simple steps to reconnect. At RSPCA Hull, we’re joining the movement by highlighting how animals, volunteering, and our charity shops are helping people feel less alone and more connected to their communities.
Companionship That Purrs and Wags
One of the most powerful antidotes to loneliness is unconditional companionship — something our rehomed and fostered animals offer every day. Whether it’s the gentle presence of a senior cat or the joyful energy of a rescue dog, pets provide routine, comfort, and an emotional anchor for those feeling isolated.
We currently have dozens of cats and dogs looking for loving homes or short-term foster care. Every adoption is not just a new chapter for them — it’s a lifeline for someone ready to welcome love back into their home.
Volunteering: Finding Purpose and Friendship
RSPCA Hull’s growing team of volunteers includes people of all ages and backgrounds, many of whom joined to meet new people and feel useful again after major life changes — bereavement, retirement, or relocation.
Volunteering opportunities range from animal care and admin support to helping in our charity shops. No experience is necessary — just kindness and a bit of time.
Charity Shops as Community Hubs
Our RSPCA charity shops are more than retail spaces — they are places of welcome and warmth, where people can pop in for a chat as much as a bargain. Customers often tell us they feel more connected after visiting, and for some, our shop volunteers may be the only friendly face they see that day.
“It’s the little things — being greeted with a smile, being asked how you are — that can turn someone’s whole day around,” says Shelly, our Multi-site Retail Manager.
We encourage local residents to visit one of our shops this week, not just to support our cause, but to experience the community spirit we foster every day.
Join the Movement:
- Sign up to volunteer with us
- Explore fostering or adoption
- Visit or donate to one of our friendly charity shops
Share their own stories of connection using #MeetingLonelinessTogether
Let’s start the conversation — and end the stigma.
