Starbucks and Harry Kane Foundation (HKF) unveil new partnership to get the nation talking, highlight the power of human connections and improve the nation’s mental wellbeing
· Loneliness in Britain is worse than ever, according to the Centre for Social Justice*. Nearly six in 10 adults – 31.4 million people – feel lonely most, often, or some of the time
· The partnership combines vital funds and awareness raising to help create more human connections that bring people together
· Limited-edition coffee cup sleeves and stickers bearing Harry’s likeness help customers ‘kick off a conversation over a coffee’ and drive awareness of HKF and its long-term goal of transforming a generation’s thinking about mental health
For the first time ever, Starbucks is unveiling a new teammate for its iconic Siren: England captain and Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane.
The sporting icon appears on a limited-edition coffee cup sleeve to launch a new partnership between Starbucks and Harry Kane Foundation (HKF) which aims to get the nation talking to highlight the power of human connections and improve mental wellbeing.
Sleeves and stickers bearing Harry’s likeness will be distributed to Starbucks® stores in England as part of a wider campaign inspiring the nation to ‘kick off a conversation over a coffee’ this summer.
Humans are social beings and thrive on connecting with others, yet loneliness in Britain is worse than ever, according to the Centre for Social Justice*. Nearly six in 10 adults – 31.4 million people – feel lonely most, often, or some of the time. The younger generation are the loneliest, with seven in 10 of 18–24-year-olds saying they feel lonely compared to under half of those aged 65 plus. The NHS and WHO cite meaningful connections and bonding over shared passions as essential for a sense of belonging.
Despite the excitement for the summer of sport, feelings of loneliness can intensify when the weather warms up as people tend to be more social. TikTok views for ‘summertime loneliness’ have increased 600% in the past year, up from 970,000 to 7 million plus. This campaign aims to bring people together to connect in real life, helping in a small way to alleviate those feelings.
Promoting strong social connections is a key area of focus for HKF, which aims to transform a generation’s thinking about mental health. Working with charities, experts, and strategic partners to inspire, educate, and empower people of all ages to be active on their individual mental health, HKF wants to normalise conversations, tackle stigma, promote psychological fitness (mental resilience and emotional wellbeing), and provide practical support through education and mental health services.
England captain and founder of HKF, Harry Kane said: “Small talk really can make a big difference when it comes to our mental health and happiness. Spending even a short time together talking can make you feel good in that moment, but also leave a memory that lasts. Remembering we are not on our own is a big boost to our wellbeing. This initiative through my foundation with Starbucks will get more human connections going, creating special moments through something we all love, whether it is football or a good cup of coffee!”
To help drive the change, Starbucks will donate £500,000 to The Harry Kane Foundation, which is a restricted fund under the auspices of Prism the Gift Fund (Registered charity no: 1099682), as part of a 12-month partnership to support HKF’s work through awareness, education, and empowerment initiatives on behalf of national charities.
This summer, Starbucks® stores in England will encourage people to come together by:
· Using coffee cup sleeves and cup stickers which feature Harry’s likeness to surprise and delight customers and act as conversation starters.
· Raising awareness of HKF and campaign messaging in-store on display boards, table tops and delivery postcards to bring about more human connections over a coffee.
· Turning the Starbucks® store in London’s Brompton Road into a Kindness Café over the summer, where people can come together to talk.
· Inviting the community of Mental Health Allies who work in Starbucks® stores to connect with others over shared passions.
· Directing those who are struggling to cope to know where to find help through Shout, the UK’s only free, confidential, 24/7 text messaging support service.
Alex Rayner, general manager at Starbucks UK, said: “We are thrilled to partner with The Harry Kane Foundation to kick off this important conversation. Just like sport, the ritual of coffee is a powerful way to connect with others. Together with our passionate and trusted green apron partners, we are making every Starbucks store a place where people can come together to share their stories and connect over a coffee”.
For over 25 years, Starbucks has woven itself into the fabric of the communities it serves across the UK and is proud to offer a ‘Third Place’ – warm and welcoming spaces that feel like an extension of home in stores and beyond. Initiatives supporting mental wellbeing in the UK include:
· Creating more green spaces across the UK to increase the nation’s access to nature to improve mental and physical wellbeing, in partnership with charity Hubbub. The Nature Hubs fund is offering around 50 groups up to £6,000 of funding to develop green space initiatives and increase access to nature.
· Training Mental Health Allies to help support Starbucks® partners, equipping them with the skills to recognise signs of mental and emotional struggles and offer appropriate support, with 95 allies now in place across Starbucks-owned stores in the UK.
· Providing mental health awareness training to all store managers.
· Creating The Partner Life support network – a free and confidential employee assistance programme offering information, advice, guidance, and up to 10 free counselling sessions for partners should they need it, anytime, 24-hours a day, 365 days a year for themselves and their families.
· Offering Bupa private medical insurance which provides partners with an online GP service, instant phone consultations and Bupa mental health, comprising of full mental health support.
· Creating The Wellbeing Blend Network, which connects more than 16,000 Starbucks partners across the UK, focusing on supporting everyone’s wellbeing.
· Offering complimentary Headspace membership to all Starbucks partners.
· Supporting Mental Health Awareness Week with badges for baristas and accompanying in-store messaging.
