Social relationships have a value. The activities implemented and researched as part of our Connected Communities programme demonstrate that through working strategically and inclusively with communities this value can be grown by connecting people to one another in their local areas.
The Connected Communities programme is a longitudinal research project, in partnership with the Centre for Citizenship and Community at the University of Central Lancashire and the Personal Social Services Research Unit at LSE, which has sought to -
- understand how community and social connections affect people’s well-being;
- develop best practice around using local data and evidence to help develop local projects that enhance positive connections and wellbeing;
- feedback into how this links to wider public policy and social debates.
Our final report in the programme, 'Community Capital: the value of connected communities', argues that by investing in interventions which build and strengthen networks of social relationships it is possible to generate four kinds of social value or ‘dividend’ shared by people in the community, including increases in wellbeing and economic gains.
Read 'Community Capital' report
Funded by the National Lottery through the Big Lottery Fund.
