Community Connectors: helping older people stay connected
Helping older people stay connected and supported in their local community
Tackling isolation, building belonging
Many older people in the UK feel isolated or disconnected from their local area.
Isolation is personal and can arise for many reasons including social, emotional or physical challenges that make it harder to reach out or stay involved. Community Connectors helps reduce these barriers so people feel more connected where they live.
Our approach to overcoming isolation
The Community Connectors project is Keychange's response to this growing challenge.
It’s a new, proactive approach that supports older people to build connection, regain confidence and feel part of their community again.
Our focus is on enabling participation and reducing the practical, social and emotional barriers that contribute to isolation. This pilot project is based in Southwick and rooted in strong partnerships with local churches, community groups and organisations who care deeply about older people and want to help strengthen community connection.
Community Connectors
Many older people in the UK feel isolated or disconnected from their local area. Isolation is personal and can arise for many reasons including social, emotional or physical challenges that make it harder to reach out or stay involved. Community Connectors helps reduce these barriers so people feel more connected where they live.
The Community Connectors project is Keychange’s response to this growing challenge – a new, proactive approach that supports older people to build connection, regain confidence and feel part of their community again. Our focus is on enabling participation and reducing the practical, social and emotional barriers that contribute to isolation.
This pilot project is based in Southwick and rooted in strong partnerships with local churches, community groups and organisations who care deeply about older people and want to help strengthen community connection.
Why Community Connectors matters
Loneliness and isolation can have a serious impact on older people’s wellbeing, health and quality of life. While many excellent services and activities already exist, they can be hard to find or access for those facing health challenges, mobility issues, bereavement or other life transitions. These barriers can leave people feeling even more disconnected at the times when connection matters most.
Community Connectors bridge this gap.
Rather than waiting for referrals from health services or individuals, Community Connectors take a proactive, relational approach. They work directly with local networks, churches, community groups and services to identify older people who may benefit from support. By building trust, listening carefully and engaging within the community, they help individuals find the connection and practical support that’s right for them.
This work reflects Keychange’s commitment to enabling older people to flourish, not only in our residential settings but within the wider community.
What a Community Connector does
A Community Connector offers personalised support to older people who may be isolated or facing barriers to participation.
This typically includes:
- Listening to what matters to each person and understanding their situation
- Identifying barriers to connection, such as confidence, transport or awareness
- Signposting to local activities, services and support – social, practical and wellbeing-focused
- Keeping in touch during any waiting periods or early stages of joining new activities or support and following up to see how things are progressing
Support is flexible and can take place in community settings, faith spaces, libraries at home or over the phone, depending on what suits the individual.
Alongside one-to-one work, the Community Connector builds strong relationships with local community groups and service providers, helping to create clearer pathways of support and reduce gaps in provision.
Who we work with
The Community Connectors project is rooted in partnership. In Southwick, this includes collaboration with:
- Local churches and the wider faith community
- Community centre and Library
- GP practices and social prescribing teams
- Voluntary and charitable organisations supporting older people
The project is open and inclusive, supporting older people of all backgrounds, beliefs and circumstances.
Looking ahead
Through this pilot, Keychange is gaining important insight into how to strengthen community support for older people. As the Community Connectors project aims to extend to other communities, our objectives are to:
- Reduce isolation and improve wellbeing for older people living at home
- Strengthen collaboration between churches, community groups and local services
- Develop a model that can be replicated in other locations to meet local needs
Ongoing evaluation and reflection are built into the project, ensuring that learning continues to shape future delivery.
Meet Alex
Alex Watts leads the Community Connectors project in Southwick.
Alex focuses on understanding local needs by speaking directly with older residents, visiting community groups, meeting churches and services and gathering insight from everyday conversations. Her work centres on reducing isolation, strengthening local connections and developing a clearer picture of what support older people in Southwick need.
Alex’s work is supported by Keychange’s leadership team and governance structures, ensuring the project is well-led, accountable and aligned with best practice.
Early impact and learning
Alex began the first phase of the project by carrying out focused research through community conversations and a structured questionnaire completed by older residents and local groups.
These findings are brought together in Building Connections: Insights into the Older Community of Southwick, a report that outlines key themes, barriers to connection and opportunities for improvement.
The report now guides the next stage of delivery and has been shared with local services, community hubs and activity providers to support wider planning and strengthen community provision.
Alongside this research, Alex has been:
- Building trusted relationships with local churches, community hubs and services
- Engaging directly with older residents to understand their experiences and challenges
- Identifying gaps, barriers and opportunities in existing support
- These early insights are helping Keychange and partners better understand how older people experience community life in Southwick and where targeted support can make the greatest difference.
Read the report, Building Connections: Insights into the Older Community of Southwick
Meet Alex
Alex Watts leads the Community Connectors project in Southwick.
Alex focuses on understanding local needs by speaking directly with older residents, visiting community groups, meeting churches and services and gathering insight from everyday conversations. Her work centres on reducing isolation, strengthening local connections and developing a clearer picture of what support older people in Southwick need.
Alex’s work is supported by Keychange’s leadership team and governance structures, ensuring the project is well-led, accountable and aligned with best practice.
There are many ways to be part of the Community Connectors project.
3 ways you can be part of Community Connectors
If you have any questions about this project, or you’re interested in working together, get in touch with Alex here.
Please pray for older people who are feeling isolated, and for wisdom, compassion and impact as this project grows.
With your support, we can help more people connect with their communities and break free from isolation.
How community conversations shape our work
Tackling transport barriers together in Southwick