LT-22-01-Rapid-Research-COVID-19-Briefing-16.pdf - page 1/14 - January 2022: BRIEFING 16
![January 2022: BRIEFING 16](pages/page-0001-small.png)
LT-22-01-Rapid-Research-COVID-19-Briefing-16.pdf - page 2/14 - Introduction
![Introduction](pages/page-0002-small.png)
LT-22-01-Rapid-Research-COVID-19-Briefing-16.pdf - page 3/14 - · relationships amongst individual local…
![· relationships amongst individual local residents, who have come together often informally, and on a hyper-local level to provide support](pages/page-0003-small.png)
LT-22-01-Rapid-Research-COVID-19-Briefing-16.pdf - page 4/14 - During the first lockdown, in the spring…
![During the first lockdown, in the spring of 2020, community groups and other agencies were acutely aware of social isolation amongst older people and invested time, energy and resources to addressing this through, for example, doorstep visits or developing telephone support and buddying schemes. As COVID-19 has evolved, however, there has been a growing awareness that isolation has not been confined to older people. Children, young people and families have also suffered and have been a growing priority in terms of mental health support for a number of community groups in this study. Even with the easing of restrictions over the summer of 2021, there were those residents and workers who noted that some people remained "reluctant to come out of their house ... to mix with others ... they have lost their mojo". Responses have therefore been adjusted, for example through providing activity packs for children and young people, and the formation of support groups, to meet changing needs (see Rapid research COVID-19 briefing 15 (Wilson et al, 2021c)) in ways which recognise the importance of social relationships to health and wellbeing.](pages/page-0004-small.png)
LT-22-01-Rapid-Research-COVID-19-Briefing-16.pdf - page 5/14 - cohesion. Trust lies at the heart of a f…
![cohesion. Trust lies at the heart of a functioning democracy and so declining trust constitutes a significant challenge". Where trust was lacking, this sometimes led to tensions, resentment and other barriers which hindered relationship building within communities, particularly between different groups and organisations, and in turn hindered responses to the pandemic:](pages/page-0005-small.png)
LT-22-01-Rapid-Research-COVID-19-Briefing-16.pdf - page 6/14 - "In the past [our] network meetings were…
!["In the past [our] network meetings were about sharing information but now they are about the relationships between people. The level of conversation is different about the impact COVID is having on workers there is a better sense of collegiality." (Community worker)](pages/page-0006-small.png)
LT-22-01-Rapid-Research-COVID-19-Briefing-16.pdf - page 7/14 - you to help you grow. Relational Welfare…
![you to help you grow. Relational Welfare supports people to grow their own capabilities, the most important of which turns out to be the human bonds between us: our relationships." (See: Hilary Cottam, n.d.)](pages/page-0007-small.png)
LT-22-01-Rapid-Research-COVID-19-Briefing-16.pdf - page 8/14 - some of the worst effects of isolation a…
![some of the worst effects of isolation and had helped to build wellbeing, in ways it was hoped would continue into the future:](pages/page-0008-small.png)
LT-22-01-Rapid-Research-COVID-19-Briefing-16.pdf - page 9/14 - the pandemic has changed some but not al…
![the pandemic has changed some but not all. If our community isnt inclusive to itself, then how can they be inclusive with others?" (Resident)](pages/page-0009-small.png)
LT-22-01-Rapid-Research-COVID-19-Briefing-16.pdf - page 10/14 - Thirdly, and relatedly, community groups…
![Thirdly, and relatedly, community groups said that there were lessons in how to `flip the methods of relational working, from face-to-face to online via Zoom and other communications technologies. This applies at the informal neighbour-to-neighbour level with the expediential growth in the use of social media (Statista, 2021) to keep street and neighbourhood connections going (or, in some cases, to spread disinformation, Allington et al, 2021). For community groups and other agencies, the pandemic resulted in moving governance, management and often services online. Whilst this has been welcomed by some as presenting a more flexible way of working, others have struggled either because of unfamiliarity with the technology, limited fast broadband access (particularly in rural case study areas) or finding the data unaffordable. This also reinforces the importance of being reflexive within community activism, asking, for example, who is digitally connected, who is excluded (Watts, 2020) and how do we reach those who are not online, both in terms of ongoing community engagement but also, crucially, access to basic services and benefits such as healthcare and welfare?](pages/page-0010-small.png)
LT-22-01-Rapid-Research-COVID-19-Briefing-16.pdf - page 11/14 - Perhaps, as the pandemic continues and n…
![Perhaps, as the pandemic continues and new variants of COVID-19 emerge, we are reaching a critical transition point. One future might be where we return to an `old normal, which reinforces pre-pandemic inequalities and more transactional modes of working. Another might be where what has been learned during the pandemic, about the importance of investing time and energy in relationships in the face of crises, offers a more equitable, humane, future (Parker, 2020). Such learning may offer a pedagogy of hope that counters the fears of Carter and Clarke.](pages/page-0011-small.png)
LT-22-01-Rapid-Research-COVID-19-Briefing-16.pdf - page 12/14 - Cottam, H. (2011) `Relational Welfare, S…
![Cottam, H. (2011) `Relational Welfare, Soundings, 48: pp. 134-144.Cottam, H. (2018) Radical help: How we can remake the relationships between us and revolutionise the welfare state, Virago LittleBrown.Cook, J., Thiery, H., Burchell, J., Walkley, F., Ballantyne, E. and McNeill, J. (2020) Report #1: Lessons from lockdown, Mobilising Volunteers Effectively.](pages/page-0012-small.png)
LT-22-01-Rapid-Research-COVID-19-Briefing-16.pdf - page 13/14 - Parker, M. (ed) (2020) Life after COVID-…
![Parker, M. (ed) (2020) Life after COVID-19: The Other Side of the Crisis, Bristol, Policy Press. Richardson, L., Durose, C. and Perry, B. (2018) `Co-producing Urban Governance, Politics and Governance, 6(1) pp. 145-149. DOI:10.17645/pag.v6i1.1485 Richardson, L., Durose, C. and Dean, R. (2019) `Why decentralize decision making? English local actors viewpoints, Governance, 32(1) pp. 159-176. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/gove.12365 Robinson, D. (2020) The moment we noticed: The Relationship Observatory and our learning from 100 days of lockdown. Relationship Project. Robinson, I. (2021) Active neighbours field guide: Exploring the stories behind the numbers, https://relationshipsproject.org/active-neighbours/ Rutter, J. (2020) Remembering the kindness of strangers: Division, unity and social connection during and beyond COVID-19. London, British Future. Statista (2021) Coronavirus: impact on social media usage worldwide, Hamburg, Statista. Unwin, J. (2018) Kindness, emotions and human relationships: The blind spot in public policy. Carnegie UK, Dunfermline. Watts, G. (2020) `COVID-19 and the digital divide in the UK, Lancet Digital Health e395E396, 1 August 2020. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S2589-7500(20)30169-2 Wilson, M., McCabe, A. and MacMillan, R. (2021a) Rapid research COVID-19 Community responses to COVID-19: Briefing 10: Striking a balance between communities and local authorities. London, Local Trust. Wilson, M., McCabe, A., Ellis Pain, A. and Afridi, A. (2021b) Rapid research COVID-19: Community responses to COVID-19: Briefing 12: Potential and limits of community power in a pandemic. London, Local Trust. Wilson, M., Boiling, S., MacMillan, R., Smethurst, A. and Usher, R. (2021c) Rapid research COVID-19: Community responses to COVID-19: Briefing 15: Changing community needs and looking to the future. London, Local Trust. Xun, Z. and Gilman, S. (2021) `I Know Who Caused COVID-19: Pandemics and Xenophobia. London, Reaktion Books.](pages/page-0013-small.png)
LT-22-01-Rapid-Research-COVID-19-Briefing-16.pdf - page 14/14 - About this research
![About this research](pages/page-0014-small.png)