Two in five new parents feel more connected to their community—but renters feel more isolated

• 41% of new parents feel a stronger bond with their community
• Half of parent homeowners feel connected to their local area, compared to a third of renters
• A poll conducted by the Belonging Forum of 10,000 UK adults examines social isolation and how to foster belonging in the UK

London, UK, 5 March 2025 – Becoming a parent in the UK today transforms more than just family life — it also strengthens a sense of connection to the local community, a landmark poll by the Belonging Forum of more than 10,000 people in the UK has revealed.

The annual Belonging Barometer study found that two in five (41%) of new parents surveyed—those who have had a child in the past three years—feel a stronger connection to their community as a result of parenthood. Women are more likely than men to feel the stronger bond.

New parents who live in Wales are the most likely in the UK to report feeling more connected to their local community, with over half (52%) reporting so.

The study also highlights the key link between homeownership and social connection for families. Half (50%) of parents who own their homes reported feeling more connected to their local area, compared to only a third (33%) of those who rent.

Therefore, new parents who rent are 17% less likely to feel connected to their local area than parents who own their homes.

While many experience a heightened sense of belonging after parenthood, the picture is not universal. More than a fifth of respondents had a more negative experience, with 21% saying they feel less connected to their community after having a child. This increased to 30% of single parents who live alone and 32% of parents who have a disability.

Kim Samuel, Founder of the Belonging Forum and author of On Belonging: Finding Connection in an Age of Isolation, said:

“Families of all types should be free to live, thrive, and feel connected—in whatever home and set up they choose. But the housing and cost of living crises are eroding those choices, and policymakers must act to address the damage.

“This study’s findings—that becoming a parent can foster stronger community ties, especially for those in secure housing—shine light on a key issue for our society. Recent trends—including plummeting levels of homeownership and a growing number of people choosing to live child-free—have major implications for social connection and belonging.

“We need innovative ways to help child-free families feel connected. And at the same time, families who have lost access to secure, affordable housing must become a priority for policymakers.”

This year’s Barometer also found that, in general, social connections are strongly linked to good mental health. While only 16% of those who are frequently lonely say their mental health is excellent or very good, this rises to 54% of people who are hardly ever or never lonely.

Insights from the 2025 Belonging Barometer will inform a Charter for Belonging, a first-of-its-kind initiative setting out guiding principles and best practices to combat social isolation and foster belonging at individual, community, and systemic levels.

ENDS

NOTES TO EDITOR

For media inquiries and interviews, or further information, please contact: contact@belongingforum.com.

About the Belonging Barometer:

• The research was carried out by Opinium on behalf of the Belonging Forum and surveyed a nationally representative sample of 10,000 UK adults. The survey was conducted between 27 November and 9 December 2024.
• The polling analysed figures from the general population and broken down by demographics, including gender, age, socioeconomic status, and working status.
• The research used multi-level regression and post-stratification (MRP) polling analysis of several questions, giving insights into them at a parliamentary constituency level across the UK.
• The full findings of the second edition of the Belonging Barometer can be viewed here.
• The first edition results for 2024 are available to view here.

About the Belonging Forum:

The Belonging Forum is dedicated to understanding and collaborating to create practical solutions that combat isolation and foster belonging. Our research from around the world shows that interconnected, inclusive communities are the foundation of a thriving society, where everyone feels at home. We envision a world in which everyone can realise their right to belong through the experience of meaningful connections to people, to communities, to the natural world, to a sense of purpose and to social, political and economic decision-making.

About Kim Samuel:

Kim Samuel is an author, educator, and movement- builder. As founder and chief architect of the Belonging Forum she leads research, advocacy, and action to combat social isolation and build belonging around the world. Kim is a Research Fellow at the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative, University of Oxford, and an Associate Fellow at Green Templeton College, Oxford. She is the author of On Belonging: Finding Connection in an Age of Isolation.