Building social connections locally

Information about the study and for those taking part.

This research aims to better understand people’s experiences of building social connections via their local physical and social environment, and how these experiences can be improved.

About the study

There is evidence that structural factors, including the local physical and social environment, can influence social connection. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has commissioned the National Centre for Social Research (NatCen) and RSM UK Consulting (RSM) to explore people’s experience of building social connections via their local physical environment (for example, transport, housing, and parks) and social environment (for example, local groups, volunteering, activities, and a sense of community).

This research will contribute to work across government aiming to ensure that people can build social connections locally. 

What is my involvement? 

Focus Groups

We are interested in speaking to people who have recently experienced feelings of loneliness. Taking part will involve participation in an online focus group with 6 to 8 participants who live in the same area as you.

The focus group will be led by researchers from the NatCen or RSM, last up to 90 minutes, and take place via Microsoft Teams or Zoom. It will be arranged at a suitable date and time for you and other participants.

To say thank you, we will send you a £50 Love2Shop high street voucher after the focus group. Love2Shop vouchers can be used at many high-street shops and can also be exchanged for gift cards for specific shops (such as Asda, M&S and Sainsbury’s).

There are no right or wrong answers, we are just interested in hearing what the group think about:

  • Defining what ‘good social connections’ means for them;
  • How local transport impacts social connections;
  • How local housing/neighbourhood layout impacts social connections;
  • How local green spaces impact social connections;
  • Availability and accessibility of local groups, activities, and events; 
  • Sense of belonging or inclusion; and
  • What could be improved to better facilitate social connections.

Stakeholder Interviews

We are interested in speaking to people who work to influence the local physical or social environment within our selected local areas, particularly with building social connections in mind.

Taking part will involve an interview with an experienced researcher from the NatCen or RSM. It will last no longer than 60 minutes and take place over the phone or video call via Microsoft Teams and will be arranged at a suitable date and time for you between January and March 2024.

The interview will be tailored to your expertise, however key discussion topics will include:

  • Experience of how the physical and/or social environment influences social connections in the community;
  • Ways in which the physical/social environment acts as a barrier to social connections;
  • What interventions relating to the physical or social environment can help, or have helped support social connections for these groups;
  • What processes and mechanisms have helped support change in local areas;
  • What is missing/what are the future interventions or solutions that could be trialed.

National Stakeholder Workshops

We are interested in bringing together people and organisations who work nationally to influence physical or social environments, particularly with building social connections in mind.

Taking part will involve participating in a workshop with other national stakeholders. It will last no longer than 2 hours and take place online via Microsoft Teams or Zoom. It will be arranged at a suitable date and time based on common availability in March 2024.

This workshop will provide an opportunity to:

  • Discuss and test the findings from the wider research project in local areas;
  • Understand the generalisability of the findings to other communities; 
  • Understand where and how national government has a role in any recommended interventions;
  • Understand the processes and mechanisms at a national level, which can action change in local areas;
  • Explore the barriers and facilitators to the recommended interventions, in the context of current workstreams.

There are no right or wrong answers and we are interesting in hearing about these issues from your perspective.

Do I have to take part?

Participation is entirely voluntary and if you agree to participate you are free to change your mind at any point before, during, and after the focus group, interview or workshop until we analyse the data. During the focus group, interview or workshop discussions, you are also free not to answer any questions you would prefer not to answer.

What will happen to my information? 

We will use information from the workshop to write a report for DCMS that will be published online at gov.uk. The information you provide will be anonymised in a report we prepare for DCMS, so you cannot be identified. Your name, nor the name of your organisation, will not be in our report; however we may use quotes from you. Quotes would be written so that you cannot be identified. After workshop, we will ask if there is anything that you do not want us to include in our report.

We will treat the things you tell us in confidence under the Data Protection Act 2018 and UK General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Any information you give us will be stored safely and securely. The only people who will know that you have taken part or what you have said are people involved in the research. This includes the NatCen/RSM research team, organisations helping us (including a company called McGowan who will type up our conversation, and others in the workshop. All transcripts will be deleted within 12 months of the project ending and all focus group and workshop participants will be encouraged to keep what is discussed confidential.

We never pass on your details to other organisations for any other reason. The only exception is if you tell us that you or someone else is at immediate risk of harm. In this situation, we would always try to discuss this with you first before speaking with anyone.

For more information on how how your personal data are collected for the purposes of this research, read the privacy notice.

Contact Us

If you have any questions or would like to have a discussion about taking part, you can speak to the person who sent you this information sheet or contact the researchers by email at SCSF@natcen.ac.uk.

This page also includes details of organisations who can provide support if anything around this research has raised upsetting feelings.

Advice and Support Organisations

NatCen is an independent, not for profit organisation, which carries out social policy research. We are aware that taking part in an interview about your experiences of loneliness may raise issues which you might like further advice and support about. 

Some of the below organisations have helplines which you can call, email or message on a live webchat if you need advice or support. If you are worried about your health and need further support, please contact your GP.

Samaritans

Samaritans is a charity which provides emotional support to anyone in emotional distress, struggling to cope, or at risk of suicide throughout Great Britain and Ireland. Their helpline is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Visit: https://www.samaritans.org/ 

Call: 116 123 (free)

Email: jo@samaritans.org. The response time is typically 24 hours.

Self-help App: https://selfhelp.samaritans.org/ 

WaveLength

WaveLength is a charity that provides technology to people experiencing loneliness who are not able to afford devices, so that they are able to stay connected to others.

Visit: https://wavelength.org.uk/ 

Call: 01708 621101

British Red Cross

British Red Cross is a charity helping people in the UK in times of crisis. They have a telephone helpline that offers confidential advice on loneliness support. 

Visit: https://www.redcross.org.uk/get-help/get-help-with-loneliness 

Call: 0808 196 3651

Campaign against Living Miserably

Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) is a charity based in England. CALM run a free, confidential and anonymous helpline as well as a webchat service, offering help, advice and information to anyone who is struggling or in crisis.

Visit: https://www.thecalmzone.net/ 

Call: 0800 58 58 58. Open 5pm to Midnight, 365 days a year. 

Webchat: https://www.thecalmzone.net/help/webchat/ Open 5pm to Midnight, 365 days a year.