Bringing VCS organisations together to tackle social isolation
Across Camden, our vibrant Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) plays a crucial role in supporting residents facing hardship.
In November 2022, we launched the Cost of Living Community Response Fund, enabling local organisations to come together to share the challenges residents were experiencing and co-create partnership-based solutions to support residents with the rising cost of living.
We are now pleased to announce the third year of this initiative, through Community Connectedness Conversations 2025.
At the heart of this year’s approach are inclusive community events led by Ward Councillors and supported by council officers. These sessions will bring together a wide range of local partners VCS organisations, faith groups, residents, schools, and public services to share insights on local needs, identify opportunities for collaboration and co-develop ideas for funding and joint working.
“Partnerships locally can be so powerful. You can do so much more through collaboration than by working in isolation.”
Camden VCS organisation, recipient of the 2024 Community Response Fund
Why Community Connectedness?
This year’s theme Community Connectedness focuses on reducing the impact of social isolation and loneliness – one of the biggest challenges facing Camden’s residents.
In a recent borough-wide report, 36% of residents reported feeling lonely which is significantly higher than the London average of 24% and the England average of 22%. While it’s normal to feel lonely sometimes, being connected to our communities is vital in helping us to feel happier and healthier.
And that’s why one of our We Make Camden ambitions is to ensure that no one in the borough is socially isolated without the means to connect to their community.
These community conversations are designed to build on this ambition. By strengthening neighbourhood ties and creating inclusive spaces, we aim to help residents manage the costs of living, build resilience, and enhance wellbeing.
Autumn 2025 – A phased approach to community conversations
To maximise collaboration and reduce duplication, councillors will hold eight largescale conversations across Camden from September 2025 onwards, with each event covering two or three neighbouring wards.
These cross-ward sessions will:
- Enable more strategic partnerships
- Encourage resource-sharing and joint action
- Provide a coordinated space for developing project ideas
Details of the session’s dates, times, venues will be published on the Camden website, shared via the VCS newsletter, and sent directly to community and public service networks. If you would like to receive details of the events, contact us at participation@camden.gov.uk
Each ward has been allocated £20,000 from councillors’ Local Community Infrastructure Levy (LCIL). While the individual grants may be modest, the focus is on collaborative, community-owned responses that build lasting local connections.
Ward Councillors will make final decisions on how their ward’s funding is allocated. Grants are expected to be in the range of £2,000 to £8,000 per project, depending on the scope and partnership size. Participants will have a month to submit their applications for funding after the conversation event.
Community Connectedness priorities
All project proposals must aim to address at least one of the following priorities:
- Increase reach and connection: Enable organisations to connect with isolated or underserved residents
- Tackle food and energy insecurity: Help residents access food, energy and wrap around support – i.e. advice, debt support and welfare etc.
- Improve access to information and guidance: Make it easier for people to find and use the support available
- Deliver free or low-cost local activities: Activate community spaces and support regular, inclusive participation
Principles for proposals
Project proposals should align with the following principles:
- Preventative support
- Empowerment and social action
- Equity and inclusion
We look forward to working alongside Camden’s diverse community of residents and organisations to continue shaping stronger, fairer neighbourhoods together.
Find out more
If you would like more information about the conversations, contact us at participation@camden.gov.uk
