One Year of Connect – Watch the Celebration
Over the past 12 months, residents, community groups and public services in Barking and Dagenham have been building something extraordinary together.
Watch the community’s one-year celebration video to see what Connect looks and feels like on the ground. From individual participants sharing how they’ve built connection, to community partners explaining how we’re collaborating against one of our most complex place challenges, eradicating social isolation.
Learning Our Way to Belonging in Barking and Dagenham
Connect is a different way of investing in community. Everything we do was co-created with our community, based on the stories of people experiencing isolation. For the past year local residents, VCFSE partners and public services have been learning together, week by week, how to build a borough where everyone feels they belong.
We’re testing how to:
- Work 1:1 alongside people to help them remove barriers to connection and build their confidence and agency to pursue their goals
- Create spaces with “magnetic pull”, where people feel welcome, valued, and able to contribute
- Shape smoother pathways for residents to navigate local services and get the support they need
Independent economic evaluation predicts a saving of around £32,000 for every person who participates in Connect to overcome isolation
£9 saved for every £1 invested, based on reduced service need and improved quality of life.
What We’re Learning
- Mattering is the foundation – People need to feel they matter – both to others and to themselves. This sense of worth is essential for building lasting connection and confidence.
- Identity is not fixed – When people are supported to reimagine what they have to offer, they often surprise themselves, unlocking new roles, relationships and confidence.
- First impressions count – A warm welcome, a remembered name, or a thoughtful gesture can make all the difference for someone stepping into a new environment for the first time.
- Be human, not just helpful – Letting go of formal roles and showing vulnerability creates mutual respect. Real connection grows when we meet each other with honesty and empathy.
Read the Connect story
Read more about the story of the Connect programme, the impact we’ve made and more of the learnings we’ve accumulated along the way.
