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Really important - its great to know who you live near and how you fit in with them - some people you just won't get on with and close confinement with neighbors at stressful times can lead to annoyances ..... but also kindnesses.

It's very very important! Sometime you still do feel lovely with friends, but you always can get very comfortble talking about anything with your close friends. They understand you more and support you in everything you do.

We are all part of the community and it really makes a difference if all ages pull together, the kids love to hear stories of the older generations lives and the older generation love to see the youngsters enjoying themselves and inbetween love seeing them together.

It's so important, and more important than ever at this moment in time. However, I'm finding things very lonesome ~ I would usually chat with a couple of friends on a daily basis, but since the death of my brother, one decided to not be a friend any more, and since this lockdown, I've not heard anything from the other. I'm not saying I can't manage being on my own, but I enjoy chatting and having a laugh. I've sought out other friends to talk to, but it's just not the same as long time friends....

Very important, not just for older people but also for young people and children. Community connection makes people happier and lowers crime.

So important! Even more so now! Loneliness is a horrible feeling and it can really effect mental health. With all the technology available it should be possible to stay connected with everybody

Extremely important for metal health reasons to stay connected to family, friends and local community.

It's important - humans are social animals

it's important for all ages especially at the moment

It's so important to connect and look after your community right now. I hope people feel they can ask me if they need anything. Isolation can be such a problem, and mental health is just as important as physical health.

Connection is important and can be achieved at a level that feels “right” for the individual. Not everyone wants to be on the planning committees but even just stopping to pass the day with your neighbour, staff at the local shop etc can make all the difference

To-day when most of us live away from our extended family community is more important than ever. Years ago most people stayed in the same locality as we were born and grew up, so therefore we had intergenerational families around us, grandparents, aunts and uncles, cousins etc. These days our commnities are taking on the roles, so it is more important than ever to feel conected. During recent times, we have seen communities come to-gether and help each other out. Long may it last, lets hope that this is one of the positive things to come out of lockdown.

Because communities benefit from the diversity of all ages, backgrounds and interests and real community is based on sharing, caring and embracing each other as we each are with any 'shoulds' removed!

It’s very important that people of all ages stay connected to their local community. In this day and age social media has a large part to play but mustn’t take the place of face to face connection. Recent times have emphasised how lonely isolation can be so remaining connected has become even more important.

It’s so important for people of all ages to feel connected to their community as it makes you feel that you’re not on your own. You can learn such a lot from different age groups. Just look at how everyone got together for VE Day. History coming to life right in front of you. How much the younger generation can learn from their elderly relatives and neighbours and vice versa. It helps your mental wellbeing - just going for a walk around the local area, someone is sure to say hello or just give a smile. Shopping locally gives you the chance to speak to people, unlike the soul less supermarkets. All coming together on a Thursday at 8pm definitely lifts your spirits. After lockdown let’s hope this feeling of community will continue.

It is very important for people of all ages to be part of a community. It can be difficult for people of any age to engage with others for a variety of reasons, including physical disability and hidden reasons. Some people are naturally happy on their own and actually want to lead their life in a solitary fashion, and for some, this is fine. Others find it hard to interact due to shyness or an inability to communicate with others because they don't have the inbuilt knowhow, for want of a better way to phrase it. It would seem to be the case that those who have friends are less like to feel lonely or have low self esteem and depression.

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.

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

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

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.

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

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?

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 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.

Hugely important