The need for social connection has never been more important.
Recent figures from the Campaign to End Loneliness show that the number of people who are chronically lonely has risen by half a million since the first year of the pandemic, with 7 per cent of the population now saying that they are always or often lonely.
These numbers underscore the crisis of social disconnection we are experiencing in the UK, which is at once a personal crisis, a public health crisis and a political crisis, and one that simply cannot be ignored.
At The Cares Family, we bring people together across generations, backgrounds and experiences to build community and connection both locally and nationally.
As part of my work speaking to local government partners across the country, I have heard unease at the social disconnection in the communities in which they work and live and their strong desire to make a change.
Our response has been to detail what it is we do that creates meaningful connection. Through in-depth conversation with colleagues, the people we work with and external partners, we have identified 10 techniques that we practise that underpin authentic and reciprocal connection – where people bring their ‘true self’ to their interactions with others, and each person feels the benefit.
To bring those techniques to life and inspire connection, we have created ‘Ripple Effect’.
Working with partners, including City of York Council, we have developed a programme that creates a practical learning space making real our 10 techniques. This is designed specifically for local government teams and their partners to explore what working in this way would mean for them and their communities, and how to turn this into a workable plan to create meaningful connection where they are.
Ripple Effect is free and open to any local authority that is passionate about, and committed to creating, meaningful connection.
More than ever, we need to bring people together.
Local government is a linchpin for socially connected communities and of fundamental importance in making this urgent need a reality.
You can find out more about Ripple Effect by visiting www.thecaresfamily.org.uk/ripple-effect or emailing [email protected]