Matthew Parsfield, who recently presented our Connected Communities findings to four audiences in Finland, is struck by the RSA’s huge potential for impact in the country.
Social relationships have a value. The activities implemented and researched as part of our Connected Communities programme demonstrate that through working strategically and inclusively with communities this value can be grown by connecting people to one another in their local areas.
The Connected Communities programme is a longitudinal research project, in partnership with the Centre for Citizenship and Community at the University of Central Lancashire and the Personal Social Services Research Unit at LSE, which has sought to -
- understand how community and social connections affect people’s well-being;
- develop best practice around using local data and evidence to help develop local projects that enhance positive connections and wellbeing;
- feedback into how this links to wider public policy and social debates.
Our final report in the programme, 'Community Capital: the value of connected communities', argues that by investing in interventions which build and strengthen networks of social relationships it is possible to generate four kinds of social value or ‘dividend’ shared by people in the community, including increases in wellbeing and economic gains.
Read 'Community Capital' report
Funded by the National Lottery through the Big Lottery Fund.
Latest Blogs & Articles
Building communities is not only intrinsically good; it can benefit the economy and public services too. Matthew Parsfield reflects on our 'Connected Communities' work.
Loneliness in the UK is at epidemic proportions, so is it now time to rethink what we as communities can do about it?
Latest Publications
Our final report in the Connected Communities programme argues that by investing in interventions which build and strengthen networks of social relationships it is possible to generate four kinds of social value or ‘dividend’ ...
The government's planned reform of the health care system does nothing to combat loneliness and isolation amongst people who are most in need of support.
Businesses should act as ‘community hubs’, helping promote social interaction among their customers and developing local action plans to create happier, more resilient communities.
Recent efforts to build the Big Society have been too focused on citizen-led service delivery. Could nurturing people’s social networks provide a more effective approach?
Events
Communities Creating Health and Wellbeing
Monday 30th November 2015
Great Room Auditorium, RSA House
Do we need to rethink our approach to civic capacity-building and to the delivery of health and social care?
RSA Mindfulness network event: All Party Parliamentary Group
Fellow Event
Tuesday 23rd June 2015
Room One, London
Join us for our June event, which, in addition to the update on the All-Parliamentary Mindfulness Initiative, will comprise of a series of facilitated mindfulness exercises.
