How to stay connected with your community

Whether it's friendships or relationships, humans crave social connection as it plays an integral role in looking after our mental health.

To help you stay connected, we've partnered with Neighbourhood Watch to outline some of the ways you can build a sense of community.

Learn your neighbours’ names

Knowing your neighbour’s first name can help you feel more connected to the people you live next to.

Join an online class or group

From virtual museum tours to social groups and classes, there are lots of ways to get involved in an online community.

Join the local library

Your local library is free to join and many have digital hubs, offering downloadable resources, activities and community events.

Start a letter exchange

If technology isn’t your thing, then letter writing can help to process your thoughts and feelings. Why not pick up a pen and start a letter exchange?

Pick up the phone

Start a phone tree (like a family tree, but with phone numbers)! It’s an easy way to stay connected, particularly with those who are not online.

Gather the phone numbers of people in your group, before filling in your phone tree so that each person calls two more people, until everyone in your group is included.

Share the phone tree with the group so that everyone knows who to call, and make sure they have the numbers they need.

You might like to set a day or time of day so people know when to expect a call. Then, enjoy a natter! Soon everyone in the group will have spoken to at least two people.

Phone trees are a great way to reduce isolation for those living on their own. You can set them up for a street, a block of flats, a local group, or even family and friends.