Social Connection during COVID-19: Lessons and Future Challenges
Event type: Webinar Report LaunchDate: 12/05/2020
Location: Online
Thursday 14th May
This webinar launched the first report of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Social Integration’s Inquiry into social connection during the COVID-19 crisis.
Members of the All Party Parliamentary Group, together with organisations who gave evidence to the inquiry and co-authors of the report from British Future, presented initial findings so far and cast forward to the future challenges for businesses, charities and public sector organisations that work with isolated groups.
Date and Time: Thursday 14th May, 12.00PM – 1.15PM
Speakers:
- Peter Gibson MP, APPG on Social Integration Member
- Jill Rutter, Director of Strategy & Relationships, British Future
- Will Tanner, Director of UK Onward
- Jo Broadwood, CEO of Belong
- Sunder Katwala, Director, British Future (Chair)
If you were unable to attend the webinar, you can now view the recording here:
COVID-19 and the ongoing lockdown has highlighted the importance of social connection for our own wellbeing and for society as a whole. There has been an outpouring of neighbourliness and kindness. But the crisis has also brought challenges. While the Government is supporting those judged to be in clinical need, from an early stage it became clear that marginalised individuals outside this group were becoming even more isolated. It is in this context that the APPG on Social Integration decided to hold a two-part inquiry about social connection during the COVID-19 crisis.
This event shared the findings from Part One of this inquiry, which gathered evidence from organisations working across sectors connecting people, exploring the issues they face in reaching isolated groups and their examples of best practice. Our panellists considered the future challenges for those working in social connection, or with isolated groups, looking ahead to the longer-term impact of COVID-19 on the social fabric of the UK. Followed by a brief Q&A.
British Future’s latest activity on Twitter
Race hatred still rife on X and Ofcom risks being 'played' by the platform - @britishfuture response to today's Ofcom update: https://www.britishfuture.org/race-hate-on-x/
'It's a posh word for racist, basically.'
With ethnonationalism on the rise in British politics, @Sundersays gives @IainDale an unfiltered explanation on what it means.
WE'RE RECRUITING: Senior Researcher on race equity Salary £42k, London.
Applications close Mon 2 November.
More details: https://www.britishfuture.org/jobs/senior-researcher-on-race-equity/
TODAY 10am at Labour Party Conference:
'Can Labour get immigration right?' (10am, ACC Arena) with @oliviabaileymp; @EmilyAGraham2; @sundersays @Holly_JoyB
'A Decade After the Brexit Vote: How Close Should the UK Get to Europe Now?' Today 1pm at Labour Conference with @AnnelieseDodds @RSylvester1 @sundersays and Andrew Lewin MP
https://www.britishfuture.org/event/british-future-at-party-conferences-2026/
Today 11.30am at Labour Conference 'What Do Ethnic Minorities Want from Labour on Race?' with
@AJogee @rokhsanafiaz @JOwusuNepaul @sundersays
and Kudsia Batool, TUC Director of Equalities.
(FGF pod, Arena Room, ACC downstairs)
This morning 9.30 at Labour Conference:
'Bridging Divides: Why Generations Matter' With @pauldaviesmp.bsky.social @sundersays.bsky.social
Olivia Field, @jocoxfoundation.bsky.social
Emily Abbott, Intergenerational England
Shelley Hathaway-Batt, Clarion Futures
'Can Labour get immigration right?' Join us at Labour Party Conference to discuss on Tues 29th (10am, ACC) with @oliviabaileymp; @EmilyAGraham2; @sundersays @_katedevlin + others TBC.
https://www.britishfuture.org/event/british-future-at-party-conferences-2026/
'A Decade After the Brexit Vote: How Close Should the UK Get to Europe Now?' Join us for this Labour Conference fringe panel Mon 28th 1pm with @AnnelieseDodds; @RSylvester1; Andrew Lewin MP; and our @sundersays
Join us Mon 28th 11.30am at Labour Conference for 'What Do Ethnic Minorities Want from Labour on Race?' with @AJogee; @rokhsanafiaz; @JOwusuNepaul; @sundersays and Kudsia Batool, TUC Director of Equalities.
(FGF pod, Arena Room, ACC downstairs)
