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The importance of social connection

We know that;

  • Loneliness and social isolation put people at increased risk of anxiety, heart disease and depression and has a similar risk to premature mortality as smoking 15 cigarettes a day.
  • Nationally, half a million older people go at least five or six days a week without seeing or speaking to anyone at all and two fifths of older people say that TV is their main company[i]
  • In Gloucestershire, only half of adult social care users have as much social contact as they would like.
  • 33% of 18 – 24 year olds report that they would like to be more involved in their community when surveyed by Gloucestershire Gateway Trust in 2021 .[ii]
  • 38% of service users responders to the Gloucestershire ‘Community Wellbeing Survey’ in 2017 feel lonely at times, with loneliness being highest in those with a mental health issue, a long-term illness and/or a learning disability.[iii]
  • A fifth of those surveyed by Inclusion Gloucestershire in 2021 faced disabling barriers with their access to leisure and social activities.[iv]

Why are they important?

We know that having good-quality relationships can help us to live longer, happier lives with fewer mental health challenges. Support from social networks can strengthen our resilience and our ability to bounce back after stressful situations.

Good relationships are important for our mental wellbeing. They can:

  • help to build a sense of belonging and self-worth
  • give an opportunity to share positive experiences
  • provide emotional support and allow us to support others

This is why the Five Ways to Wellbeing recognises the important need for people to “connect” to stay healthy.

There are lots of ways to connect to improve our mental health:

  • Take time each day to reach out to family and friends. This could be arranging to go for a walk together, a telephone call or text, or a video call with loved ones who you cannot meet in person.
  • Join a local community group, sports team or hobby group to find other like-minded people with similar interest.
  • Volunteer for a local charity as a way to meet new people, support others and your local community.

As well as being a great way to connect with new people, volunteering can make a real difference to your community and be lots of fun!

Following engagement with thousands of local people, organisations and community groups, it was clear there was a need to bring together the wide range of volunteering opportunities available across Gloucestershire into a single, easily accessible online point of access. The ‘Go Volunteer’ Gloucestershire website was launched in July 2022 as the new digital home of volunteering and serves a dual purpose, for:

  • Gloucestershire residents aged 16+ looking to offer their time as a volunteer

and

  • Local organisations, charities and community groups looking for volunteers.

‘Go Volunteer’ was founded by the Gloucestershire Volunteering Collaborative, a new county-wide group drawn together from representatives from the local VCSE sector, public sector organisations, employers, and employees, along with volunteers themselves. Hosted by Gloucestershire VCS Alliance, the collaborative’s aim is to provide leadership to improve the way volunteering works in the county.

People wanting to volunteer in Gloucestershire will now be able to use the website to match their skills, interests, location, and availability to the perfect volunteering role whether it be helping at a one-off event right through to regular commitments. If you’d like to connect to a local volunteering opportunity visit Go Volunteer.

If you work, it is also worth checking with your employer as many organisations offer time off (sometimes paid) to do one or two voluntary activities per year; this can be a way for companies to help their employees give back to the local community.

As well as being a great way to connect with new people, volunteering can make a real difference to your community and be lots of fun!

Following engagement with thousands of local people, organisations and community groups, it was clear there was a need to bring together the wide range of volunteering opportunities available across Gloucestershire into a single, easily accessible online point of access. The ‘Go Volunteer’ Gloucestershire website was launched in July 2022 as the new digital home of volunteering and serves a dual purpose, for:

  • Gloucestershire residents aged 16+ looking to offer their time as a volunteer

and

  • Local organisations, charities and community groups looking for volunteers.

‘Go Volunteer’ was founded by the Gloucestershire Volunteering Collaborative, a new county-wide group drawn together from representatives from the local VCSE sector, public sector organisations, employers, and employees, along with volunteers themselves. Hosted by Gloucestershire VCS Alliance, the collaborative’s aim is to provide leadership to improve the way volunteering works in the county.

People wanting to volunteer in Gloucestershire will now be able to use the website to match their skills, interests, location, and availability to the perfect volunteering role whether it be helping at a one-off event right through to regular commitments. If you’d like to connect to a local volunteering opportunity visit Go Volunteer.

If you work, it is also worth checking with your employer as many organisations offer time off (sometimes paid) to do one or two voluntary activities per year; this can be a way for companies to help their employees give back to the local community.

Funded through a Thriving Communities Grant (Gloucestershire County Council).

Through the pandemic, fears, and concerns around COVID have been a central theme and concern with women that attend/connect at the hub. By being able to share these concerns with one another in a safe space they have been able to draw strength from the rest of the members which has supported them to be more resilient.

The group has used ‘WhatsApp’ to stay connected. This has been particularly important to those who have been unable to return to face-to-face sessions for a variety of reasons to feel that they are connected to people, not isolated.

We continue to signpost members to additional support where needed in individual cases. Through activities such as making crafts for NHS hospice care, we have made more links with local NHS professionals. This has built even more connections and trust, crossing the divide which can be experienced with professionals.

We have facilitated sessions on alternative/new exercise opportunities including badminton and archery. In the archery session, most members were able to significantly improve their coordination and were able to hit the target by the end of the session. Badminton was not something which any members had previous experience of, and discussions have started to see if the badminton sessions can be run regularly with the Friendship Café providing equipment and someone to run the session on a weekly basis.

One of our members said:

“Had a wonderful session of badminton with our wellbeing group. It's really good being able to work up a sweat, [on the] road to being healthy.  Hoping there will be more opportunities in the near future. Archery session the week before was also very good. Helps with focus and concentration. Totally absorbed during the whole one hour. Look forward to more activities with the wellbeing group!”

Funded through a Thriving Communities Grant (Gloucestershire County Council).

Through the pandemic, fears, and concerns around COVID have been a central theme and concern with women that attend/connect at the hub. By being able to share these concerns with one another in a safe space they have been able to draw strength from the rest of the members which has supported them to be more resilient.

The group has used ‘WhatsApp’ to stay connected. This has been particularly important to those who have been unable to return to face-to-face sessions for a variety of reasons to feel that they are connected to people, not isolated.

We continue to signpost members to additional support where needed in individual cases. Through activities such as making crafts for NHS hospice care, we have made more links with local NHS professionals. This has built even more connections and trust, crossing the divide which can be experienced with professionals.

We have facilitated sessions on alternative/new exercise opportunities including badminton and archery. In the archery session, most members were able to significantly improve their coordination and were able to hit the target by the end of the session. Badminton was not something which any members had previous experience of, and discussions have started to see if the badminton sessions can be run regularly with the Friendship Café providing equipment and someone to run the session on a weekly basis.

One of our members said:

“Had a wonderful session of badminton with our wellbeing group. It's really good being able to work up a sweat, [on the] road to being healthy.  Hoping there will be more opportunities in the near future. Archery session the week before was also very good. Helps with focus and concentration. Totally absorbed during the whole one hour. Look forward to more activities with the wellbeing group!”

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