Brighton has been named one of the most socially connected cities in Britain, according to new research exploring how strongly people feel connected to where they live.
The study, commissioned by Brighton-headquartered public sector membership club Boundless, found that 72.7% of Brighton residents say they feel connected to their local community, placing the seaside city fifth in a nationwide ranking.
Brighton sits just behind Southampton (74.4%), Belfast (74.1%), Sheffield (73.6%) and Plymouth (73.6%) in the list of Britain’s most socially connected cities.
The results suggest coastal communities may foster particularly strong social ties, with three of the top five cities located by the sea, all ranking above the national average of 67.5%.
Despite these strong results in some areas, the research found that across Britain one in three people (32.5%) say they feel disconnected from their local community, highlighting a growing social connection gap nationwide.
London ranked sixth overall, with 69.5% of residents saying they feel connected to their community, while Newcastle placed lowest in the study with 59%.
The research also found that people working in public sector roles report particularly strong community ties, with three in four (75.1%) saying they feel connected to their local area, compared with seven in ten private sector workers (70.1%).
Darren Milton at Boundless, the membership club for public sector and civil service workers and retirees, said: “It's encouraging to see places like Brighton ranking so highly when it comes to community connection.
“Strong communities are built through shared experiences and opportunities to come together, whether that’s through local activities, volunteering or spending time with people who live nearby.”
Boundless helps bring people together through shared experiences, offering its 150,000 members access to days out, events and volunteer-run community groups across the UK.
In Sussex, members can take part in local social gatherings organised by the Bexhill & District Club, a volunteer-run Boundless community group which hosts regular meet ups and activities for members in the area.
Boundless member Audrey Willingham said: “For us, the best thing about Boundless membership is the social element. The local monthly lunches are good events and you have a good laugh – there’s normally a speaker there – it makes it a day out rather than doing boring chores at home.”
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