For the last four years, the University of Exeter has been working with Volunteer Cornwall and Coastline Cornwall on a Smartline project, which supports communities in Cambourne, Pool, Illogan and Redruth (CPIR) to take part in activities which will improve health and wellbeing.

Reducing isolation during the pandemic

“As we entered the second phase of Smartline in 2019, the new activities were affected by the pandemic. We made a swift decision to start using online platforms to communicate with the community and help bring people together.

“Alongside Coastline Housing we developed a virtual coffee morning. A mixture of local residents attend, creating neighbourly relationships between Smartline participants and those not involved in the project. Discussions at the coffee mornings have also resulted in online craft sessions delivered by Ruth Purdy of MITBER, and online history talks delivered by Kresen Kernow.

“We’ve recently started working with St Euny Church in Redruth to set up an internet café. Volunteers help to support the project, and organisations like the Job centre will be invited to use the space to connect with people.

“These activities are more than just social events. They create community spaces where we can support people with a variety of issues from support with paying bills, accessing food banks, becoming a volunteer, accessing public transport and connecting to the community. We enable local organisations to host our sessions to encourage local involvement so that hopefully all of these activities can continue beyond the end of Smartline.

“To make community work “work” we have to ensure that each project we create is based on the community’s needs and are sustainable into the future. “

The Smartline team taught people how to use tablets, creating a positive effect on health and wellbeing.