About ReConnecting
We established ReConnecting to bring people together during the pandemic and following lockdowns.
Since July 2020, we have helped more than 250 members each month by organising events and forging connections.
The aims of ReConnecting are:
Reducing loneliness by encouraging social interaction and engagement with others.
Sharing lived experiences with others from different backgrounds. ReConnecting users come from all over the UK and we aim to provide a platform for them all to meet new people and engage in fulfilling activities together. Many people who engage with our services have mental and physical health problems and we offer a safe space to discuss issues with the outcome that people feel, ‘less alone’ and ‘supported by the group’.
Building the confidence of our members through engaging activities. There is no judgement of people’s ‘work’, we do not strive for perfection or technical expertise, but simply to try something new and enjoy the process. Over time this builds confidence and resilience because people experience gains in skills and the knowledge that they can fail and try again without any problems.
How we work
At ReConnecting, we engage with users and value and respect the opinions and ideas given to us. User feedback is a key element for decisions we make about future events. We are a service organisation and we strive to meet the users’ needs. In testament to what we provide, some users have become volunteers and/or presenters for us.
Our service base is UK-wide and brings families together through our events. We conduct the majority of our services online as this is more inclusive to users with mobility or transport issues. Additionally, the ability for users to engage in activities from their own homes can help them feel safer.
Since July 2020, ReConnecting has received funding from various sources, including the National Lottery, Carmarthenshire County Council, Tesco, Time Banking and Communities for Wales.
We have also had donations from generous service users and local businesses in the form of money, cloth, arts and crafts supplies so that we can host events for our members.
