A coffee caravan in rural Suffolk, furniture restoration projects for men and organised rambles for the recently bereaved are among more than a hundred initiatives being backed with a £11.5m fund to tackle the epidemic of loneliness.

One hundred and twenty-six projects have been chosen to receive up to £100,000 each in the first ever government-backed fund to tackle a problem that the prime minister, Theresa May, described as “incredibly damaging to our humanity” when she launched a national loneliness strategy in October.

The projects will target a wide range of groups across England from isolated Pakistani women in Bradford to young LGBTQ+ in Bristol and lonely elderly men in Cornwall.

The government believes the health impact of loneliness is on a par with obesity and smoking. It says loneliness is associated with a greater risk of smoking, coronary heart disease and stroke as well as an increased risk of depression, low self-esteem, sleep problems and Alzheimer’s disease.

Mims Davies, the minister for loneliness, said: “I am committed to encouraging open conversations around this sensitive topic to reduce the stigma and create an environment where everyone is better connected.”

Rural Coffee Caravan in Suffolk will buy a new camper van that will travel to quiet villages in the East Anglian countryside and set up temporary cafes. It is also using the money to extend an initiative that involves pubs giving out free coffee on Monday mornings.

“Loneliness is just so damaging,” said Ann Osborn, its director. “Lonely people are more likely to have problems with obesity, have heart disease and suffer from depression. But also they cut themselves off and so the community suffers.

“We need everyone involved to flourish. All we are doing is bringing people together to make their own conversations. Once they introduce themselves they become empowered.”

The Rural Coffee Caravan also provides information on the availability of exercise classes, welfare payments for carers and befriending services.

The Ramblers, a charity representing the interests of walkers, will receive £89,000 to arrange short one- or two-mile rambles for the bereaved.

“There is a triple benefit from walking in groups,” said Brendan Paddy, who is developing the Ramblers’ friendship walks. “You are physically active, building social connections and there is evidence that just being outdoors, ideally in green spaces, is really good for your mental wellbeing.

“Men also tend to be less good at sitting down and making friendships with people. Doing something and being side-to-side rather than face-to-face can make that process easier and less intimidating.”

A study by the Co-op and New Economics Foundation attempted to calculate the cost of loneliness to private sector employers and estimated there was a £2.5bn annual cost due to absence and productivity losses.

• This article was amended on 27 December 2018 to make clear that the £11.5m is an English fund and not a UK-wide one.