Cancel loneliness
Behind the scenes
The Cancel Loneliness campaign is a community-driven initiative by Band of Brothers Qld Inc., launched to help reduce social isolation and strengthen connections across the Redcliffe Peninsula. Focused on simple, practical actions anyone can take, the campaign encourages residents, businesses, and community groups to notice the signs of loneliness and take steps to reconnect. From volunteer-led phone check-ins to free downloadable guides, Cancel Loneliness is designed to be inclusive, accessible, and powered by local champions. Here’s a behind-the-scenes look at how we built this grassroots movement from the ground up.
Hear about how the community campaign and how it came to life from a “behind the scenes” perspective from our campaign manager, Kirsty Fields.
When you see a campaign appear in your community – complete with posters, guides, social media, and launch events – it’s easy to forget how much planning and heart happens before the public ever hears about it.
The Cancel Loneliness campaign for Band of Brothers Qld Inc. has been one of the most meaningful projects I’ve worked on. I’d like to give you a first-hand look at what it took to bring this community activation to life.
Step 1 – Choosing Colours with Purpose
We didn’t start from scratch – we began with the logo from the Community Hive, picking out brand colours already in use by Band of Brothers. From there, I created a palette that was bright, welcoming, and easy to use across social media, print, and digital resources.
Why this mattered:
We wanted our campaign to feel familiar and trustworthy, but still fresh and memorable for the community. Elements we knew would be designed are for residents of all ages, genders and backgrounds. So being approachable and modern were also important factors.
Step 2 – Planning the Public Launch
One of the first decisions we made was how to launch the campaign publicly. We chose to align with National Loneliness Awareness Week, giving us a national conversation to connect to and a clear timeline to work towards.
We decided on a morning tea. A morning tea allows for a simpler affair. It’s also affordable, allowing the funding to stretch further. It’s also a warm format that suits a small charity doing big things. It’s an event style that invites conversation, gives people a reason to come together, and reflects exactly what our campaign is all about.
We also wanted the opportunity to invite stakeholders in – literally. The morning tea will offer a short tour of the dual office space where the Band of Brothers Qld Inc. works from.
Step 3 – Designing in Canva for the Future
Every resource was designed in Canva so volunteers could easily adapt, update, and share materials without special software.
Why this mattered:
Keeping design accessible means the campaign can live on and grow without relying on a single person/business to produce every asset.
The Band of Brothers Qld Inc. have been grateful to receive funding from the Coopers Foundation to kickstart the campaign works, and all staging leading into the morning tea event and launch. However, further funding will be required to expand and grow the campaign across the city with support from a professional manager.
Step 4 – Creating the “Mask” for NOTICE
The first step in our Four Action Steps is NOTICE. From the outset the Committee like the symbolisation of a “mask” design. An image was sourced and used as a central part of the conversation for this step, but that image was an artist’s sketch and not useable for the campaign.
It took six different drafts for the Committee to find an image that felt strong, easy to recognise, and would work across different publications.
Why this mattered:
A visual symbol helps the community remember the message instantly.
Step 5 – Building Resources for Every Step
We created one-page guides for each of the Four Action Steps: Notice, Nudge, Name It, Notify. They’re practical, positive, and easy for anyone to print, email or read on their phone.
Guides are in a standard A4 format to encourage workplaces in particular to access and print posters for staffrooms or other common spaces.
Why this mattered:
We wanted tools that anyone could use – at home, at work, or in a community space -without feeling overwhelmed.
Step 6 – Making Resources Easy to Access
We uploaded every guide and poster to the Band of Brothers Qld Inc. website, ready for anyone to download for free. QR codes on printed materials link directly to these pages.
Why this mattered:
It had to be simple for people to find the resources, whether they first saw them at an event, in a café, or online.
Step 7 – Printing Advocate Kits
We’ve professionally printed kits for our Advocates: local businesses and organisations. Each kit includes a brochure stand with flyers, as well as printed copies of the 4 Step Processes and guides.
Why this mattered:
Tangible materials give Advocates something to display and share straight away – making it easier for them to start conversations with customers, clients, and community members.
Step 8 – Creating a Campaign That Can Grow
From the start, the plan for Cancel Loneliness to keep evolving was central to conversation. This project of works has been focussed on the Redcliffe Peninsla which is the home of the Band of Brothers Qld Inc. Charity. However, the scope has always been to expand to all regions of the city.
Seeking out partner agencies with similar goals to have added to the volunteer numbers, engaging new Advocates, sharing more stories, and expanding its reach are all now in site.
The templates, guides, and processes we’ve created mean anyone can pick it up and help it grow.
Why this mattered:
A campaign is only as strong as its ability to adapt, especially when powered by volunteers. But the idea that this is a pilot program to engage other volunteer organisations around the country has been key to producing every item.
Be Part Of the story
This campaign is for our community—and it works best when more people get involved. You can:
- Become a Cancel Loneliness Advocate
- Use the free guides and resources
- Share the message with your friends, colleagues, and neighbours
Sign up today to help make sure no one feels forgotten.
Why Does This Matter?
These statistics have been taken from recent Australian research and reports by Ending Loneliness Together, the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, and the 2021–2023 Loneliness Reports by Relationships Australia and Swinburne University.
