Starbucks’ iconic Siren is gaining a new teammate on a limited-edition coffee cup sleeve – England captain and Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane. It marks the unveiling of the partnership between Starbucks and Harry Kane Foundation (HK), to get the nation to ‘kick off a conversation over a coffee’ this summer.
The campaign aims to highlight the power of human connections, and improve mental wellbeing. As human beings, we naturally seek social connections, yet loneliness in Britain has reached unprecedented levels, as reported by the Centre for Social Justice. Nearly six in 10 adults – equating to 31.4 million individuals – experience feelings of loneliness most, often, or occasionally. Particularly striking is the younger generation, with seven in 10 individuals aged 18-24 feeling lonely, contrasting with less than half of those aged 65 and above. Both the NHS and WHO emphasize the importance of meaningful connections and bonding over shared interests for fostering a sense of belonging.
Amid the buzz surrounding the summer of sport, the onset of warmer weather paradoxically heightens feelings of loneliness as people traditionally gravitate towards social activities. TikTok has seen a 600% surge in views for ‘summertime loneliness’ over the past year alone, skyrocketing from 970,000 to over 7 million. This campaign endeavours to foster real-life connections, offering a small yet meaningful step towards easing these sentiments.
A cornerstone for the HKF mission is encouraging strong social connections, transforming mental health awareness among the next generation. Collaborating with charities, experts, and strategic partners, HKF strives to inspire, educate, and empower individuals of all ages to prioritize their mental health. By fostering open dialogue, combating stigma, advocating for psychological fitness (including mental resilience and emotional wellbeing) and offering practical support through educational initiatives and mental health services, HKF aims to normalize mental health conversations and enhance overall wellbeing.
Harry Kane says:
“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.
Other initiatives from Starbucks include raising awareness of HKF and campaign messaging around stores, turning the Starbucks store on London’s Brompton Road into a Kindness Café over the summer where people can come together to talk, and inviting the community of Mental Health Allies who with in Starbucks stores to connect with others over shared passions.
You can read more about the Starbucks and Harry Kane Foundation partnership here, and you can find your nearest Starbucks location here.
