As part of our work in Essex, the “Uttlesford Community Action Research – Community Action Zones” project took a strengths-based approach to understanding social isolation and loneliness; focusing on people’s social connections and networks, rather than assuming social deficit.
Drawing on our deep experience of working with communities across the UK, we worked with local partners to create a pioneering, three-staged process to promote community-led social action to tackle isolation and loneliness: listening and observing through ethnographic research, dialogue and reflection through community events, and co-creating new approaches led by residents themselves.
This work led to new insights into the nature of people’s social connections, how they feel about the communities they live in, and the extent to which social isolation and loneliness affect their daily lives.
Community wellbeing Social action
Posted on: 11 April 2018