HARIBO UK and charity join forces to combat loneliness

Pontefract and Castleford-based confectionary businesses, HARIBO UK, has teamed up with national charity The Together Project which aims to combat loneliness and social isolation.

The partnership, unveiled on UN International Day of Happiness, will see the Together Project bring its Songs & Smiles sessions to HARIBO UK’s home of West Yorkshire for the first time.

The Songs & Smiles programme is a series of sessions in local care homes, where song and play helps forge friendships between older people, parents and guardians and their children.

The sessions help to combat loneliness among older people, new parents and carers.

With HARIBO UK’s support, the Together Project is hoping to more than double its Songs & Smiles programme in 2025, with over 2,200 sessions, over 5,500 beneficiaries, and six groups in West Yorkshire.

All HARIBO UK staff will be able to take part in the initiative, as employees are invited to nominate care homes they have a personal connection with to take part in the Songs & Smiles sessions.

Jon Hughes, managing director of HARIBO UK & Ireland, said: “We’ve always believed that whether you’re young or young at heart, everyone should be able to enjoy moments of childlike happiness.

“Being able to partner with the Together Project is a proud moment for us to support more initiatives which share this commitment – this time, with a specific focus on combatting loneliness.

“West Yorkshire has been our home for over 50 years now, so the opportunity to bring the Songs & Smiles project to the local community for the first time is really special; even more so because we can involve all HARIBO colleagues throughout the nomination process and support care homes with personal connections to our team.”

Louise Goulden, founder and CEO of the Together Project, added: “Today is an exciting moment for the Together Project as we expand our Songs & Smiles programme into a new part of the UK.

“At a time when small charities are faced with an exceptionally challenging fundraising landscape, HARIBO UK’s financial support is vital to reducing loneliness and helping isolated people build connections.

“Without funding opportunities such as this, organisations of our size would struggle to exist.

“We are really excited that this partnership allows us to establish a presence in West Yorkshire and work with HARIBO UK on their mission to create more moments of happiness, bringing people of all ages together to reduce social isolation in their local community.”