Feeling
Connected
About Us
Feeling Connected is a Derbyshire Voluntary Action project on a mission to reduce loneliness and isolation across Chesterfield Borough and North-East Derbyshire District.
Social connection is vital for our well-being. It's as good for us as a healthy diet or exercise.
And long-term loneliness is as harmful to our health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day!
The solution already exists.
It's in each of us, it's in our neighbours, it's in our communities.
James, Feeling Connected Project Manager
Our holistic, bottom-up approach involves a number of integrated workstreams to achieve our aims.
We prioritise ‘informal’ and emerging initiatives, rather than established organisations.
We remove barriers to the funding and support that informal, grass-roots initiatives need - so that anyone can get involved in creating many diverse opportunities to connect in our neighbourhoods.
We encourage and nurture the creativity that comes from the community-based volunteers we support; their life-changing ideas make a direct, positive difference to the well-being of their neighbours, and their own too.
We are currently supporting over one hundred community-led initiatives, from one-off events to regular activities, groups or projects.
Hundreds of community-based volunteers are involved in creating these often simple yet incredibly powerful opportunities for connection.
Thousands more are benefitting from participating, with countless others experiencing the positive ripple effects.
Our Work
Community Initiative Support
We're making it easier for anyone to bring people together, creating vital opportunities for social connection across Chesterfield and North-East Derbyshire.
From micro grants and individual mentoring to group learning and networking opportunities, we're supporting local organisers with a desire to make a positive difference where they live.
Building Confidence
We're running free courses across a number of locations in Chesterfield to help people discover ways to boost their confidence, feel more motivated, and find their voice.
Feeling Connected Family
We're fostering connections through our inclusive network, the Feeling Connected Family, in which we involve everyone in the task of reducing loneliness and isolation.
Anyone can find a role; as an organiser, a supporter or an interested community member.
The Feeling Connected Family comes together at our social events, our training workshops and in our Facebook group - enabling shared learning, collaboration, support and encouragement.
Loneliness Awareness
Our communication campaigns and active presence in communities across Chesterfield and North-East Derbyshire help to raise awareness of the importance of ‘connectedness’ to health and wellbeing.
We're igniting conversations that reduce stigma and encourage everyone to help create connection and belonging - for themselves, for others and for our communities.
Inspiring and Celebrating Local Action
Our communities are full of amazing people who volunteer their time and energy to create opportunities for connection and belonging in many different ways.
We celebrate the great work happening across our area to inspire others to make a difference.
And we tell the stories of those who organise community initiatives where they live and show the impact they have on people's lives.
Our Team
James Starky
Project Manager -Feeling Connected
"It’s really inspiring to build upon the skills, energy and passion that’s out there. To provide a simple service that others can grasp and run with, creating something that’s meaningful for them and that makes a difference for the community."
Gina Taylor
Community Development
"It's great to be part of an inspiring organisation that contributes to positive change within local communities. My Feeling Connected role allows me to support and empower people. This bottom-up approach that the team adopts has a meaningful impact on our local communities' life."
Helen Corcoran
Hubs Coordinator & Community Development
"I really value the chance to make a difference in a creative way. There are so many challenges out there for people, organisations and communities, and so much opportunity to strengthen support and resilience through connection."
Gabrielle Clay
Community Connector & Community Development
"Empowering people to find community, friendship, and purpose is incredible. Seeing someone take that first step and flourish reminds me why connection and support truly change lives".
Catherine Thornley
Communications & Community Development
"It’s great to help people turn their ideas into something that makes a real difference. It’s amazing to watch their skills and confidence grow, and to see how it not only transforms their communities but their own lives too".
Our Organisation
Derbyshire Voluntary Action stands united with everyone dedicated to improving the health and well-being of Derbyshire's communies.
As a local organisation, we are present and active in our communities, listening to, encouraging and enabling people to make a positive, often transformative difference.
Our members benefit from a broad range of learning opportunities, and numerous funding and grant programmes, all of which help them to respond to the needs of their neighbours and strengthen community support.
The ingenuity and responsiveness of our work and the people we partner with provides vital insights to numerous commissioning and governing bodies, helping them make better decisions and enhance public health services.
We speak up for those who are being left behind and offer a guiding voice to people looking for a path to a happier and healthier life.
Our partners
