Connect is for people who have recently spent time in hospital, and need a little help as you recover.
We’re here to work with you to help you draw on the support in your neighbourhood, and make new friends. We’ll work with you on the things that matter the most to you, help you overcome things that are a barrier, and help you build on the things that you love.
Please contact us if you’ve been admitted to hospital in the last year and are aged 18 or over.
My name is Abigail, and I’m a Connection Catalyst for the Connect Project.
I think of myself as an avid reader, devoted mother and a tenacious friend. I’ve been told I’m enthusiastically optimistic, but I wouldn’t be who I am today without the endless support from my family and friends. As someone who lives with an array of health problems, I know firsthand how hard it is to accept living a life within unchosen limitations and the persistence is takes to not let these hardships define you.
The connect project is a deeply personal approach to addressing social isolation.
We want to work alongside people to build on the things they love, overcome barriers and support people to live meaningful lives. To help people see their purpose, empowering agency in their lives to build connections and draw from this support to boost resilience in the face of adversity. Reinforcing the value of how developing and investing in authentic relationships within your community has positive health benefits by creating a sense of belonging, mutual trust and self-determination.
We understand how the stress of being discharged from hospital without a support system around you can be over-whelming and detrimental to your recovery. By recognising the reasons behind feeling lonely we hope to stop people feeling trapped in a cycle of service intervention, freeing them to invest in relationships that helps grow beyond quick fixes and short-term relief. We want to see change that lasts.