Just Say Hello

Loneliness affects more people than we often realise. In Tower Hamlets, residents of all ages and backgrounds can find themselves feeling isolated, whether that’s older people living alone, young adults going through big life changes, new arrivals to the borough, or anyone who has simply lost touch with the community around them.

Just Say Hello started from a simple idea: that a conversation, however small, can make a real difference to how someone feels. And that if enough people and organisations commit to that idea together, something meaningful can happen.

Well One's role

Well One was part of Just Say Hello from the beginning. We worked with the Tower Hamlets Connection Coalition to develop the campaign’s look, feel and brand identity, designing something warm, accessible and recognisable that organisations across the borough could use and make their own.

The campaign launched in December 2023, supported by a coalition of over 100 voluntary, community and NHS organisations. A launch event brought together 80 organisations, more than 40 of whom signed up on the day and committed to taking action.

Over 100 starter kits were distributed, each containing everything an organisation needed to host their own coffee morning or drop-in session. We organised 10 events that took place across the borough, reaching over 300 residents.

The impact went beyond the campaign itself. Mind Tower Hamlets adopted Just Say Hello permanently, running a weekly drop-in coffee morning that continues to this day. The Just Say Hello page became one of the most visited pages on the Tower Hamlets Connect website. And the connections formed between organisations during the campaign continue to shape how the borough tackles loneliness.

Images of the Just Say Hello 'Coffee Morning in a Box' Kit, a Just Say Hello billboard and a Just Say Hello coffee morning event

Two smiling neighbours from Bow meet up at a high tea community event at the Bernie Cameron Centre

How to get involved

Just Say Hello is now a borough-wide initiative led by Tower Hamlets Council and the Connection Coalition. There are lots of ways to get involved, from joining a local group to speaking to a social prescriber at your GP practice.

Well One also lists activities across east Tower Hamlets that can help you feel more connected. Browse our Stay Connected activities to find something local that fits your life.

Visit the Just Say Hello page on Tower Hamlets Connect to find out what’s available near you.

Just Say Hello - Tower Hamlets Connect