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Feeling connected is a core human requirement. In these days of electronic connection when we can be instantly connected to friends and family all over the world, it’s interesting to note that this doesn’t make up for the simple human requirement of a few words face to face with a neighbour, a stranger, or a shop assistant. We all need some direct human connection to avoid feeling lost and adrift.

It’s particularly important especially for the elderly & those living alone. Some villages are outstanding but it’s harder in housing estates.

I think these current times have shown us the importance of community. Humans are pack animals after all. We all need to look after each other, and often we need to rely on each other. Having a sense of community leads to a feeling of belonging, less isolation, community spirit.

For any age it is important. Where you made and build up your friends through going to school and friends you make once you have retired through church or the Womens Institute in your local town.

It is vitally important for people of all ages to feel connected to their community. We should all be kind and caring to young and old alike, non-judgemental, non-confrontational, we can all offer something of value across the generations. We are all basically the same inside, age does not determine who we are. Empathy and understanding helps people with their difficulties. Xx

It's very important. But until the coronavirus came along my wife and I didn't feel part of 'our' community, even though we're sociable types who have lived here, in a village, for over ten years. It took a crisis to bring people together – young and old – and to make it clear that we all have much more in common than any of us realised.

Being alone can be fine for lots of people. Being lonely and feeling disconnected is quite different and very damaging to our emotional wellbeing. "Community" can mean many different things as there are local, physically connected communities and "communities of interest" such as online interest groups or group meetings - U3A and university societies spring to mind, and are known to often result in lifelong friendships and connections. When these connections fail or fade away, loneliness and disconnectedness can creep in.

It is very important to be connected to others. Family, friends and your local community. If you have no connections then I'd imagine you'd be very isolated.

I think, now more than ever before it's really important for people of all ages to feel connected to their community. My parents are lucky to have their 3 grown up kids living in the same city, but I know it's not like that for everyone. I remember one of my elderly relatives lived 100's of miles away from us with her disabled son well into her 90's and, being practically housebound with him, sometimes felt very isolated. People definitely need the support of their local community as well as family, wherever possible.

I think the virus has shown how important it is to stay connected and the lockdown has made everyone find new ways to stay in touch and has brought out the community spirit in neighbourhoods.

It is vital for people of all ages feel connected to their community. I hope that all the good support networks put in place in the last weeks are not lost once we return to normal. Much recent research suggests that loneliness kills.

Of course it’s important, nobody should be feeling lonely if they have ways of connecting to family and friends ?

We all need to feel connected - to have a sense of belonging and in some way needed. Isolation and loneliness can send us down the route of depression and despair. In a community we can support one another, share experiences and life struggles which gives us a deeper sense of belonging. This is the case whatever age we are.

I think it's important to feel connection to a community, ideally the one in which you live but if not then an online one or one connected to work.
I think that the connection should be organic and natural - not forced. I've notice a lot of people taking great joy in helping people who have been neighbours near or far for years, but who were previously ignored.
My natural cynicism makes me want to see how long these new found connections last after lock down, when previously active people no longer need an excuse to get out of the house and can return to their previous work and social groups.

So many families don’t now live in close proximity to each other so it’s very important local people of all ages consider one another and enrich each other’s lives

It is very important. We all need to work together to make the community a better place. Everyone has different skills so most problems can be sorted in the community and keep it alive and working for everyone.

I think it’s vital for everyone to have a sense of belonging- beyond one’s family, the community we live in offers daily support, camaraderie & encouragement. Belonging is good for the spirit!

Having lived abroad most of my married life my community has been mostly with expats and the school community where we worked. I looked forward to coming back to the UK and finding a community however it has been hard - people in our village are already tight knit. I am happy to say the lockdown has brought out the best of the village and I've spoken to more people in the last few weeks - at a distance - that I did in the first two years of living here. It makes me feel part of the place, wanted and involved.

We are very lucky to have a great community in our village which has become more apparent during the covid-19 crisis. It has brought young and old together and has been vitally important to people's mental health.

Each generation has something to learn from each other. If we only communicated with our own age group, we wouldn't necessarily get exposed to different perspectives. Does it sound corny to say love and understanding make the world go round?

It's very important as without contact of other people in the community, feelings of isolation and depression may well begin. Especially now when it is not possible to go to gatherings outside the home.

I think it is very important, a varied group of ages bring so many benefits. Everyone has something useful to offer to the community.

We need to feel needed and respected as part of our families and communities.

It's essential! Not just now, but all the time. I think the Covid19 crisis has made us all realise how important it is to keep in touch with family, friends and neighbours of all ages in order to survive physically and mentally. The situation has, on the whole, brought out the best in people and we can see examples every day of people doing their utmost to support their community and help others. Long may it continue after the crisis has ended.

very important, a generation difference can show change in life style for example eg we did not have a phone until i was 17 and then it was a party line which my Mum put a lock on so we could not use it