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Graduate turns personal experience into campaign to combat student loneliness

Tuesday, 29 September 2026 10:27

By Jasmin Bains

As students across Wales prepare to head back to university or start their first year, one woman is aiming to make the transition a little less lonely.

Hope Shakespeare, a university graduate and Miss Wales finalist, has launched The R.I.S.E Initiative, a campaign aimed at tackling student loneliness after experiencing it herself during her university studies. 

The campaign aims to break down the stigma surrounding loneliness, reminding students that they are not alone and encouraging them to seek support and build meaningful connections. 

Hope's own experience of loneliness inspired her to take action and create a campaign to support other students facing similar challenges.  University is often portrayed as an exciting time filled with new friendships and experiences, but the reality can be very different for those who struggle to find their place. 

Although loneliness is not always openly discussed, Hope's campaign aims to challenge the idea that everyone should automatically feel settled and happy at university. 

“Before I went to university, I did not see anywhere that loneliness could be an issue… you see everything about how great university is going to be and the people you are going to meet. There is nobody talking about the slightly difficult side of university and the  loneliness within students.” 

For Hope, turning her experience into something positive has become an opportunity to help others feel less isolated and encourage more open conversations about student wellbeing. 

R.I.S.E stands for Reclaim, Inspire, Shine and Empower, reflecting the campaign's aim to help students build confidence, find support and feel more connected to those around them. 

“Loneliness is such a degrading thing to struggle with because you think it’s your fault… I want to empower those who are struggling to understand that they are not alone. It is not you; there are people out there who also feel that way.”

As part of her plan to bring people together, Hope is hosting the R.I.S.E Belonging Ball on Saturday 13th March 2027 at the Leonardo Hotel in Cardiff, bringing people together for an evening centred around connection, friendship and belonging. 

The event’s message is simple: everyone deserves a night where they feel like they belong. 

“It is an evening where people can have fun, dress up, let their hair down, but also start making connections.” 

“It is a place where you can go on your own, and you will leave knowing somebody.” 

With plans to build connections through events like the Belonging Ball, The R.I.S.E Initiative aims to create a supportive community where students feel comfortable reaching out to one another. 

As the new academic year begins, Hope aims to encourage students to speak openly about loneliness and remind them that they do not have to face it alone.

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