About us
Christchurch Community Partnership (CCP) is a small charity with a big vision: to end social isolation for all adults in Christchurch, Dorset.
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Social isolation can kill. Loneliness acts as a fertiliser for medical conditions and ill health. It can increase the risk of mortality by 26%.
But together, we can end social isolation and save lives.
We were delighted to participate with Bournemouth University and BCP Council in a project researching hidden hunger – you can read about this and other recent work in our 2023 Impact Report. You can also now read our long-awaited report on the second Christchurch Conversation, which brought together over 100 individuals representing 47 organisations.
Tackling social isolation in Christchurch
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Christchurch Community Partnership (CCP) provides a unique combination of integrated services that can be tailored to an individual’s needs. These include two transport services, Dial a Bus and Neighbour Cars, and three community connection services, Christchurch Angels, Helpful Neighbours and Coffee Connections.
Thanks to the support of our amazing volunteers, we provide essential help to those who might otherwise struggle to access services, and enable our clients to reconnect to the community. We also work in close partnership with other organisations that offer community support, to coordinate vital services and avoid duplicating provision.
People are typically referred to CCP by the adult social care, NHS professionals such as GPs and social prescribers, or by neighbours and relatives. Self-referrals can also be made directly by people who need support. Find out more about how to access our transport services and community connection services.
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In 2022, CCP was awarded the prestigious Queen’s Award for Voluntary Services in recognition of the ‘vital, non- judgmental services’ it provides to people who are ‘vulnerable, marginalised and excluded’.
What is social isolation?​
Social isolation is a lack of social contacts. Some people may choose to have fewer contacts in life, but many experience social isolation through factors outside their control. This might be lack of transport, financial restrictions, or physical impairments that can limit their ability to get out and connect with others.
Although social isolation and loneliness are not the same thing, they are intrinsically linked. Social isolation can often lead to loneliness, when a person wants and needs more connections but can’t access them. It is a frustrating and disheartening position to be in, with very real consequences for physical health.
Loneliness is associated with an increased risk of developing coronary heart disease, high blood pressure, having a stroke, advancing the onset of disability, cognitive decline, clinical dementia and depression.
Loneliness is as damaging as smoking 15 cigarettes day. Indeed, research has found that loneliness can increase the likelihood of mortality by 26%*.
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* Impact of social isolation on mortality and morbidity in 20 high-income, middle-income and low-income countries in five continents, BMJ - https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/3/e004124