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Well it’s simply not a community if people are not connecting! It is more important than ever to be reaching out and looking after one another, and don’t be fooled - for every selfish story we read in the news about selfish acts people have done, there must be many many acts of kindness carried out where people are looking out for one another!

We all have a human need to feel part of things. Local communities offer an extremely wide opportunity to be involved with neighbours of different ages, cultures & experiences. In modern days the ‘old’ community has been lost resulting in breakdown of local structure. Feeling part of a local community means you can actually see & feel the improvement in the local area & people are now beginning to recognise & know their neighbours so they’re moving on to become friends

Very important, as it's all part of the human instinct of needing to belong to a group. Life feels empty without this "belonging" feeling.

It's definitely so important. I think it's also important that people of different ages communicate, learn and build friendships with each other. It can help the younger generations learn and build empathy with older people, and allow older people to learn about what's important to younger people - especially technology!

Very important. I think the local pub helps with keeping the community together - sadly most of them are closing due to high taxes and being unable to make a profit.

It’s very important as if you don’t connect with your community you start to turn in on yourself and go into a downward spiral.

Perhaps recent events have brought the seeming paradox of connection into sharp relief for us all - without a connection we are safe from lethal viruses, physical hurt by others, mental anguish caused by others and so on....but then of course we also then miss out on all the amazing positives - love, support, acts of kindness, fascination and wonder at our differences, and (perhaps the most important one) meaning to life.

It's hugely important. It helps people with their mental health and physical well-being.

It’s so important. Even more so during this scary time. It’s makes the elderly very vulnerable and lonely. We need to come together as a community to support one another.

I think we can learn a lot from the past remembering the times when we knew our neighbours, checked on our families regularly, helped people out and just enjoyed being part of the local community. Phones, computers and TV have played a huge part in keeping us in touch but in some ways it has had a damaging effect when just a chat over the fence is so much nicer than a text.

It is extremely important especially for those isolated with no close connections. It's a support network for all.

It’s vitally important to stay connected to your local community because people get depressed without social contact. My elderly father lives in a very small cul de sac and nearly everyone in the avenue has made an effort to keep him involved in their everyday lives. They will stop and have a chat to him in the garden (socially distanced) and invited him to the recent VE Day celebrations (again all socially distanced). They have offered to pay his paper bill for him and do his shopping which is really great and takes the pressure of myself who visits regularly and has a chat at a distance too

Generally, very, but it depends on the individual and the community they're in.

It’s so so important! People of all ages get lonely and need human contact whether that be in person, message or video call. It may seem like an effort / hard work for one person but for those on the receiving end it can mean so much and make their day!

It's so important to stay connected to others in your community because we are sociable creatures who aren't meant to be alone. It doesn't matter what your age is, we are each an integral part of other's lives.

It is very important. We are fortunate in living with good neighbours and excellent community support, some centred on our Parish Church which has been providing amazing help.

Hugely important

It is very important otherwise people will feel undervalued and will produce negative thoughts.
It only takes one small deed to connect. It is not difficult and the rewards far outweigh the effort.

Being part of a community and staying connected is essential to having a happy satisfying life. From the moment we are born, we strive for that sense of belonging. When we all connect, not only can we utilise our skills for the better, we can also grow empathically to spread warmth, kindness and support to others. In the same breath, we can utilise those collective attributes from others to enhance our own lives as well as helping us in our time of need. Engaging with others regardless of age, enables us to stay mentally and physically well. In actual fact, remaining active in your community has been known to reduce the risk of early dementia, lower levels of depression and better health in general. Mixing with all ages brings so many different perspectives on a subject that one may not have contemplated before. The old can equally learn from the young, not just vice versa. Just like elephant tribes who value every single member, old and young, it just goes to show just how important, even in a world without technology, that communities succeed more-so with members of all ages and I couldn't imagine it any other way :-)

It is so important that we are all connected to our community. We have so much to gain from it. Our wellbeing is enhanced when we feel part of a bigger community; and how can we ever learn from past successes and mistakes if we don't talk to each other?

It's more important than ever as loneliness kills! Literally!

In times like this it is more important than ever to be able to keep in touch with friends and family. It has really brought out the very best in most communities and has been the means of forging new friendships and bonds between people who would otherwise never even passed the time of day. It would be wonderful if, when this is over, we continue to look out for our less fortunate members of society.

Very important in my opinion. Knowing a little bit about the people around me and having a connection with them is reassuring and psychologically comforting, especially when we look out for each other, it's like an extended family, the world needs more of this, across all age groups. I'll stop now before I well-up!! x

Being socially active and engaged in the community keeps you healthy - mentally and physically. Having a sense of purpose and something to offer helps older adults feel more satisfied and live a fuller life. Friendships offer a number of mental health benefits, such as increased feelings of belonging, purpose, increased levels of happiness, reduced levels of stress, improved self-worth and confidence. I am lucky to live in Southwick a small friendly engaging community

It is important to have the support of those around you to fall back upon, to help during unexpected crisis, and to look out for each other. Many people do not have this, and often it is only when you need real assistance that you realise how important it is.