Our Room to Belong campaign is born from research uncovering the scale of loneliness among students today. As a leading student accommodation provider, these insights challenged us to look deeper and step forward with intent. This page explores what we learned, why it matters, and how it’s shaping the bold actions we’re taking – alongside the change we’re urging across the sector – to ensure every student feels they truly belong.
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What the research uncovered
Our latest study reveals a growing crisis of loneliness among students in university halls:
- 70% say they have felt lonely or isolated
- 33% feel this way often
- 29% don’t know the People they live with
- 79% say mental health support would help when choosing where to live
- 43% feel isolated in their hall
- 44% find it hard to make friends where they live
- 41% say the design or layout makes meeting People harder
- 51% say costs limits their ability to socialise
And prospective students feel it too:
63% worry they’ll feel lonely during their studies.
Why students feel isolated
Students who reported feeling lonely or isolated often told us the reasons were:
- “I struggle to meet people outside my flat/room” – 45%
- “I spend most of my time studying or working” – 39%
- “I don’t know anyone I live with” – 29%
- “Noise or environment puts me off socialising” – 26%
- "Not feeling part of a Community” – 25%
- “Lack of communal or social spaces” – 23%
Even with good communal spaces, physical spaces alone don’t build belonging. Day-to-day support, Community culture and easy connection all matter just as much.
What we’re calling for
Through Room to Belong, we’re urging universities, accommodation providers and policymakers to put student connection and wellbeing at the heart of residential life.
Our campaign calls for:
A supportive presence on-site, day and night
Every hall should have staff available 24/7 so students always have someone to turn to – whether for reassurance, guidance or simply a chat.
A more human, connected approach to accommodation
Beyond buildings and facilities, halls should spark friendship, Community and belonging.
Sector-wide action
Loneliness is not an issue one organisation can solve alone. It requires leadership, collaboration and shared standards.
What PfP Students is doing
We’re not just calling for change – we’re delivering it across the halls we manage.
Our commitments include:
- 24/7 on-site presence in all PfP Students halls
- Enhanced training for all frontline staff, including Mental Health First Aid as part of a broader wellbeing skillset
- Service and design approaches that encourage Community, connection and day-to-day wellbeing
- Strong partnerships with universities, landlords and providers, raising expectations for the student experience
- Investing time in activities, events and moments that help students meet, bond and thrive
Learn more about how we manage student accommodation on our Property Management Services page.
And for students living with us, our Wellbeing and Help & Advice pages offer support whenever it’s needed.
88% of our residents rate their accommodation as good or very good, compared with 76% in other halls.
Leadership perspective
“Students are telling us that where they live directly affects how they feel. Loneliness shouldn’t be part of the university experience, and accommodation providers have a responsibility to act. Halls should be Communities that nurture connection, not just places to stay. That’s why we’re committing to a 24/7 on-site presence in every hall we manage – and calling on the rest of the sector to join us.”
Eamonn Tierney, Managing Director of PfP Students
Student voice: Rachel's story
Loneliness is not a statistic – it’s a lived experience for many students.
Rachel Horrobin – a third-year Psychology student – felt so alone in her hall that she didn’t want to live there anymore. But when she moved to a PfP Students facility, the genuine connections she made with the staff and other residents meant she could finally start to enjoy student life.
What's next - and how you can join us
Room to Belong marks the start of a collective effort to improve the student experience across the UK. We’ll continue strengthening our own services around belonging and connection while working with partners to shape more supportive, inclusive halls.
We’re inviting universities, private providers and policymakers to work with us to ensure students feel safe, supported and connected from the moment they arrive.
Together, we can ensure every student doesn’t just have a place to live, but a room to belong.