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I think that now it is more important than ever for people to be connected their local communities. It is literally life-saving.

Keeping connected helps to maintain to enrich and maintain a healthy mental health. We need support, encouragement, , advice, help, listening ears when we are worried or stress.

It is key to our survival and sanity!

It is important for everyone to feel part of the community. We may have different roles to play within that community, with some being more active than others, but we all belong and we all need to feel we are 'a part', rather than 'apart'.

When you live alone, and family are many miles away, it's comforting to know that people nearby can be relied upon if needed. Before lockdown, I was always ready to do my bit, but it's become a two-way situation - probably always was, but we didn't realise it.

I think that the current ' lockdown' has shown how important it is for a community to act for all members be they young or old. Each individual can contribute and form part of the community. I think it is only in these sad days that we are seeing that realisation happen. We certainly need more kindness in this world and if this crisis has this as a side effect by building communities then maybe after all it will have not been a totally bad thing!

I think that everyone should keep in touch with those people who we cherish. However, within the community it is easy to remain in circles with those who are similar; either in age or situations. It is worthwhile to jump into other circles and forge relationships with others in the community.

Its so important for future genetations. Our children need to be brought up with connections to members of society other than their parents. They need to see other families with different ways of doing things. They need to see so many diffetent opinions and need to mix with all levels of society to become rounded individuals. Someone said " it takes a village to raise a child"

It's part of every day life. Being connected to the community holds the reason why we live. Each generation can teach another generation different nuggets of wisdom. We all play huge part in our present.

It is as simple as Barbra Striesand said People who need people are the luckiest people in the world

Hugely important. Ive noticed a real return to community since the start of the pandemic and I really hope it continues!

It is really important because we all learn from one another. The young learn from the old due to their years of wisdom and the old learn new things like how to work technology.

It is important to feel part of the community just to feel noticed and friendly people care for you. Not as easy in the fast busy world we live in but as many have said the lockdown has brought people closer together.

It's very important. It's human nature to need contact with people and our close relationships are what help us cope with life's ups and downs. I can't wait to be able to spend time with my adult children and my grandchild who is due any day.

It's really important to keep in touch with all the generations. Projects such as children going in to care homes for singing sessions are sadly on hold at the moment. I hope these things can continue again sometime in the future.

Extremely important, we are by nature social, so to deprive people (of any age) of social interaction could have dire consequences to our mental health.

A kind and caring community can fulfil all kinds of need, emotional and physical, when we all come together no-one need struggle by themselves. However small, every contribution will help someone

It’s important. We are social beings who need to give, receive and belong.

Very important, too easy for older people to feel irrelevant and youngsters to feel unimportant if we don't respect & look out for each other.

I remember several years ago moving into a small village where I didn’t know anyone. I had left behind friends a place with a good community feeling, lots going on and always someone to offer a helping hand. Once we were settled in the new house my husband went back to work and my son went off to school. I sat in the kitchen and sobbed. I felt lost and alone and longed to go back to ‘my’ community. At that precise moment there was a knock on the door it was an elderly lady who had taken the trouble to come along and say hello. That evening a young boy about the age of my son knocked and said Mrs So and So (my visitor from the morning) had sent him, he and my son (both now in their forties) are still the best of friends. The elderly lady sadly passed away about a year later. I went to her funeral with many friends who I met through her. One moment of kindness was all it took for me to feel part of that community. I’ve never forgotten it and now I always say hello to new neighbours and let them know I’m there if they need me.

Community and being a part of it is important as it gives each of us a chance to give and receive and abundance of 'gifts' ...friendship, support, kindness, a shoulder to cry on, shared joys and sorrows as well as a feeling of truly 'belonging' somewhere. It creates a huge family of people to whom we aren't necessarily related!

I was concerned when we moved to a small town a few years ago and didn't know anyone. From day one we have been welcomed and feel connected to all age groups. This was very important in helping us settle in New surroundings. Children are taught to respect elders and regularly arrange afternoon tea with entertainment at the local school and visit card homes to sing and chat to residents.

People need people. Communication is the key to making intolerable situations tolerable. A simple smile can help make a difficult day seem bearable. Offer a smile and the returned smile can make a difficult day seem more bearable.

Gosh Of course Everyone at Every Age needs Someone. We are Social Beings who need stimulation and a sense of belong
Our Neighbours become our friends and we must reach out

Oh yes, it's really important to be able to be in touch, especially now, during these worrying days/weeks/months of the global pandemic. I'm 74 & at home now, so to be in contact with family & friends is vital for our wellbeing.