Community Networks
Residents spoke frequently of their friendships within the almshouse. As one resident described,
“I’m very close contact with everyone in here, you feel safe. You can always call on somebody quickly if you need to. We as people, the people who live here are quite friendly with one another”
(Resident 14)
Connections with other residents are a crucial part of community building and belonging within the almshouse. At one site in particular, many residents knew each other from the local community before living in the almshouse together, although at many other sites these connections form after residents have moved in. Residents looking out for each other is an important form of support during difficult times. As one resident explained,
“because we are one of the ‘younger ones’, we tend to help out a lot with the older residents”
(Resident 18)
They particularly noted that the diversity of ages within their almshouse strengthened the community in this way [see Diversity and Inclusion: Residents and Staff]. In this example, these residents organized food bank deliveries for residents during lockdown. This kind of neighbourliness happens outside the formal structures of the charity, and facilitating these kinds of friendly relationships is important for resilience.
Building these connections within the almshouse is greatly aided through events. These can be organized by staff, residents, or staff and residents working together. A variety of events, from bingo to meals to trips, can appeal to different residents’ interests. Funding from the charity is critical to the running of many of these events as is communication about what is going on in the community. As discussed in Design and Shared Space, common areas such as lounges and gardens provide spaces for events within the almshouse and facilitate social connection outside of scheduled events. Residents also benefit from getting out of the almshouse and into the local community or farther afield. Visits to other almshouses allow for community building across sites or even across charities. This type of exchange has been particularly appreciated by the Residents Advisory Group for the research project. The Residents Advisory Group included residents from four different charities. The members built strong ties and visited each other in different parts of the country outside of the project.
Community involvement is not limited to the almshouse itself but includes activities, events, and social spaces in the broader local community. Good public transport links broaden this community area and ensure access to these local amenities. Many residents have family, friends, and other support networks that live nearby as well. Communal spaces and events that are open to non-residents allow for residents to bring these people into the almshouse community.
Some sites have additional opportunities for residents to get involved with management through meetings with senior staff or more formal resident committees. In addition to enabling residents to have a say in how their home is run, these opportunities also build community networks between residents and staff. These connections between residents and staff can also be formed through staff attendance at events or simply by staff members being visible around the almshouse. Familiarity can help building trust and good relations.
With all events and activities, the most important feature is choice. As discussed in Residents’ Independence, residents value their autonomy and want the option to opt-in or opt-out of any particular activity, or to not participate in community activities at all. While a broader sense of apathy within the resident population can challenge community building, maintaining personal choice remains key.
There are further factors that can have a negative influence on social connections. Some residents described neighbours that have struggled to socialize again since lockdown and remain isolated. Loneliness and isolation in general are a barrier to strong community networks. Isolation can be worsened by gossip, cliques, and other social challenges. Anti-social behaviour is also a barrier to social interaction, this is discussed further in Safety and Stability. While thankfully rarely reported, when it did occur in or around where they live, residents were discouraged from going out. Most residents reported feeling safe and secure in their homes and this feeling of safety allows them to participate in the community.
When present, these strong community networks helped residents to feel less alone and to get assistance when needed. As a resident said in a focus group, “There’s always somebody there for you” (Residents 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, and 55). For some residents, being helpful to their neighbours is an important part of their identity within the community. For example, one resident describes their role as follows:
“Now everybody already knows a measure of me around here, they know that if they need anything, they can knock on my door, which more often than not they do, yes, because I fix stuff. It could be silly little things, your wheel’s fallen off your pram, but that’s your Zimmer frame, and it’s important to you, and I’ll fix it for you, or if it’s your hoover, I’ll fix it for you. But they already know the measure of me, they need anything they can knock on my door”
(Resident 16)
This helpful community spirit does not need to come at the expense of individual autonomy, as another resident explained:
“People still keep their independence. But I know if there was a problem, I could knock on half a dozen doors, and get help”
(Resident 31)
This community spirit can also aid in new residents getting settled in and welcomed into existing community networks. One resident described a very positive experience:
“Mind you saying that the older ones who they thought was going to be hard to settle in, they’ve settled in really well”
(Resident 61)
Integrating into the community gives residents access to the social benefits of being part of that network and can engender an overall feeling of belonging.
Building community also applies beyond residents to the whole organization. Among staff, having a positive workplace culture and working together in-person help build community. Being visible within the almshouse can further build connections and trust between staff and residents. The visibility of trustees in the almshouse can integrate them into the community through connections with staff and residents.
Staff can also facilitate building community among residents. By carefully selecting residents that are well suited to the community and considering the diversity of the resident population, management plays a key role in shaping the community. This community can be expanded outside the bounds of the almshouse through building relationships with other organizations in the local community. This may involve trips outside the almshouse or bringing people and organizations into the almshouse. Staff can also encourage pro-social behaviours within the community, the welcoming of new residents, openness to new ideas, the challenging of cliques, residents supporting each other, and overall resident independence. One key way of achieving these goals is to schedule community building events. Residents may also wish to be involved in the management or governance of the almshouse and these opportunities can be facilitated by staff or trustees. All of this requires good communication between and among residents and staff.
With any community, there are challenging power dynamics which need to be managed. Power imbalances among staff, between staff and residents, and among residents need to be considered for the impact they have on the community.
