When you ask people what is important to them, they usually talk about things with an emotional connection: relationships, and experiences with loved ones. But what does it mean for us as individuals, family members, friends and neighbours, to support each other, and how do we do that? More importantly, why it is important?
Every second, thousands of people – probably millions, are having a conversation with a friend; teaching a young child; looking after a neighbour’s keys; babysitting; helping a loved one achieve what they want; offering advice, wisdom, an open mind and a friendly ear.
These activities are the glue which binds us together as human beings: to others, within neighbourhoods, and among communities of interest. At nef, we call this the ‘core economy’: social activities stitched into our everyday lives. The core economy is typically undervalued and unrecognised. Many of us would not notice it until we experienced its loss (1) But where these networks and supports are broken, people are plunged into isolation and loneliness, bereft of the core social resources they rely on.
The state’s solution to this? Acute and time restricted services. Numbers and time seem to take precedence over solutions that sustainably enhance quality of life. We throw money and services, at problems which a conversation, or a friendly neighbour could cure: this is slightly obtuse, but not (scarily) that wide of the mark. As others have identified on this site, what matters to people living illness or disability is the human relationships that can help them adapt and understand the change in their lives.
nef works on an approach to public services and support called co-production. We describe this as an approach to designing and delivering services in partnership with people who use those services. We work with local authorities looking at how to commission for outcomes (not just targets and outputs), and facilitate a network of front-line practitioners who all have an interest in developing co-production. We believe that people have skills and expertise to contribute within neighbourhoods, and to wider services.
Well-being and Social return on investment (SROI) methodology are also central to nef’s work. Well-being is one of most important aspect of our lives, as individuals and as societies. But despite unprecedented economic prosperity in the last 35 years we do not necessarily feel better individually or as communities. Data shows that whilst economic output in the UK has nearly doubled since 1973, levels of happiness have remained flat. Beyond a certain level of income and material stability, more money has a negligible and even negative impact on the quality of our lives.
A state which nurtures and grows the core economy is central to improving well-being. People need conversation, love, formal and informal teaching, empathy, experience and advice. These develop trust, reciprocity, nurture and support – all of which are vital to having healthy, happy and sustainable lives. Communities, neighbourhoods and networks act as a cushion for new and unanticipated consequences of life. Supporting social spaces for people’s resources and networks to be developed isn’t a ‘nice to have’. It’s essential.
(1) Neva Goodwin in Boyle, David & Harris, Michael (2009), ‘The Challenge of Co-Production’, nef and NESTA
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