When life feels overwhelming – money worries, housing stress, mental health struggles – knowing where to turn can feel impossible. That’s why Connection Support was proud to be part of Charities Together, a collaborative project bringing support directly into community spaces across Buckinghamshire.
Alongside Age UK Buckinghamshire, Carers Bucks, Community Impact Bucks, Citizens Advice Buckinghamshire and Youth Concern, we worked differently: instead of waiting for referrals, Community Development Workers were embedded in places people already trust – foodbanks, churches and community centres – offering practical, emotional and ongoing support.
What difference did it make?
Between April 2023 and March 2025, 92 people received direct support, with a further 153 adults and children benefiting indirectly through their households – a total of 245 people supported. People came to us facing multiple challenges at once: rising living costs, debt, poor mental health, housing insecurity, caring responsibilities and immigration issues. Many had tried other routes before and felt stuck or unheard.
Through the project:
- 75% improved access to food
- 58% reported better mental wellbeing
- 58% accessed legal or specialist advice they hadn’t been able to before
- 54% felt more able to manage their finances
- 88% said they now know who to turn to if they need support in the future
But beyond the numbers, it was the human impact that stood out most.
“If I hadn’t come into contact with support when I did, I don’t know where I’d be. I had no money, no food, no gas, no electric. The help literally changed my life.”
“It felt like I was seen — not just another number. Someone genuinely cared and walked alongside me.”
Why this approach worked
Community Development Workers offered relationship-based, person-centred support — staying with people for as long as it took, helping them navigate complex systems, and responding flexibly to what mattered most in that moment.
Being based inside grassroots organisations meant:
- People didn’t need formal referrals
- Support felt informal, welcoming and non-judgemental
- Trust could build naturally over time
For Connection Support, this aligned strongly with our values — meeting people where they are and supporting them through complexity with compassion, dignity and practical action.
Strengthening the wider system
Charities Together didn’t just benefit individuals – it strengthened the local support network too.
- Partner charities built stronger relationships and better referral pathways
- Grassroots organisations gained access to specialist expertise and extra capacity
- Communities saw faster, more joined-up responses to crises
This collaborative model showed what’s possible when charities work together instead of in silos.
Looking ahead
While ongoing funding for the project wasn’t secured, the learning is powerful. It’s clear that reach-in, relationship-based support works – especially for people who would otherwise fall through the gaps.
At Connection Support, we’re proud to have been part of this work and to carry forward the learning into our services. We remain committed to building partnerships, strengthening communities and ensuring people get the support they need, when and where they need it most.
