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I think it's very important for people of all ages as it keeps communities for future generations, Activities like scouts help to encourage youngsters to get involved and take pride in their community

Important as it encourages people to feel loyalty towards the community and protective of it, ensuring that people try and fit in and abide by the social mores. If we encourage children to be part of a community and lead by example then hopefully society will be better for it.

It is important. But, in some areas it is really difficult to feel part of a community as others don't seem to want to.

At the moment - very important . There haven’t been many positives but communities pulling together is definitely one of them

Its essential, its our nature to be part of something bigger than ourselves, a sense of belonging and a reason to do and grow!

Community is what we all have in "common". No matter what our backgrounds or beliefs we all chose to live in the same community and therefore are responsible for ensuring it is a safe, vibrant and supportive place for all to share.

It's very important for all ages to interconnect in the community and work together and help each other as a whole.

I love being connected to all ages in the community! But do find it is harder to stay connected with the younger crowd now my kids are older.

It's really essential and also pleasurable! Sadly over the years as a carer been quite cut off from even this friendly village....but to all know a bit about each other and be there in good times and bad is wonderful, so many folk now lonely and isolated which is a dreadful shame.

It is important to feel a connection but I think this can be hard for young people who may not appreciate the benefits.

Very important. Being part of a community keeps you connected, we do need each other regardless of how much we may wish to keep ourselves to ourselves, this pandemic has proved that.

We all need one another. So much can be learned across all age groups. I live in a small town where the community is very strong and very supportive.

It is so important for everyone to stay connected. I try and keep hobbies like gardening that can be talked about with all ages of people in my family!

Being part of your community enriches life in so many ways. It fosters a sense of belonging and identity, and enables you to pass on your knowledge and life skills to others through participation in group and activities. And it enables you to forge new friendships with those of all ages, contributing to keeping an open mind, staying young in outlook and making sure that feelings of loneliness are kept to a minimum.

It works both ways.
It is good to give to all, not just money, but time and skills, …..
It is good to receive when you need or unable to do ………
Makes the world go round in a mutual way and it gives a warm glow

I have had to Isolate right from the very beginning,also my neighbour, is in the same boat. We did however have a brief chat whilst I was filling my bird feeders,and she was sat under a Parasol so we were well apart. I asked how she was, and she asked how I was. I had a call from the community Nurse checking everything was OK,and gave me a number to ring. I haven't as I don't need anything. The chemist rang the doorbell to tell me my trays were there. The next time he posted them through the letterbox. The postie has rang the bell and gone to the gate and left a parcel on the doorstep several times and asked if everything is ok. I had a chat with the GP. My son has been fantastic, and his wife, he has gone back to work this week. His wife has a date to return about the end of May so if I need anything they get it for me. Everything is ticking along nicely. My son rings to check to see what I am doing, and we have so many chats, I talk to my sister in Aussie all the time, its free calls night and day with the Whatsapp so that's great. So I have not really noticed lock down as I am busy doing what ever.

Community spirit is what keeps us all going, especially in times of crisis. It brings everybody together whatever their circumstances. It would be a very lonely world to live in with no-one to just pass the time of day & check on the well being of someone whether young or old. A ‘hi how are you’ is all it takes. Bring back closed all day Sundays & restore communication

It's vital. One of the biggest things missing in most innercities is a sense of community. Many teenagers are as isolated as the elderly and the mental health crisis we are in demonstrates this even before the pandemic hit. The silver lining that has come out of the current situation is people are engaging more within their neighbourhoods, however it is still not enough. My worry is when we come out of this situation people will be consumed once again (and many by necessity) with the material world. I believe the older generation must lead the way in community interaction wherever possible they have so much life experience to offer. Councils and other funding agencies need to prioritise grass roots efforts targeting everybody instead of stupid little clubs that target a minority (based on age, sex, class, race etc). Community libraries, allotments, coffee/lunch clubs, excercise groups where everybody is welcome need to become the norm.

Elderly people are kept youthful by interacting with youngsters. The young can benefit by the experience of the elderly.

As an introvert, it’s taken a lot to draw me out of my shell. We need to love and nourish good connections to live our best lives. Beth O’Leary’s message is light-touch and COVID-19’s is a terrible sledgehammer.

I hope I’ve learned my lesson at last!

Vitally

It's very important to keep community together, we can all learn from and teach each other new skills, social interaction, history etc. Without community youngsters won't know history etc and the older generation may struggle with modern technology.

It's good to be part of a community but that doesn't necessarily mean the immediate neighbours. You can belong to a community through an interest or hobby. A variety of ages keeps the older members youthful and the older ones can help the younger.

I think that it is very important for people of all ages to feel part of the community. Humans are social creatures, we thrive when we are part of a group and feel that 'we belong'. The younger generations can learn a lot from the older generation and vice versa. The pandemic that we are all experiencing now has brought out the best in most people and we are, once again, feeling like a community. We are looking out for each other, this is probably the first 'crisis' that whole communities have experienced together and it is heartwarming and living proof that community spirit still exists.

I think it’s very important, I hate seeing the old and young collide because of being born in different generations, it’s great to see everyone pulling together with the current crisis, our street are all pulling together to make sure everyone is cared for