We must protect and promote stronger social connections in a rapidly changing world to improve health and wellbeing for all in Wales, public health experts have advised.

Social connections play a vital role in our health and wellbeing and can be a contributory factor in some peoples’ experience of poorer health outcomes than others. ‘No one left behind’, a new report from Public Health Wales examines some of the potential impacts of future trends on our social connectedness and community networks.

The report considers trends like our ageing population, changing family compositions, the expansion of online communities, and the future of work, to assess how these could affect our health and wellbeing.

People are living longer and having fewer children than in previous generations. The average UK family size has steadily been decreasing – from 1.91 children per woman in 2010 to 1.49 in 2022, with projections suggesting we may also see more multi-generational and single-person households. While multi-generational living could contribute to advantages like increased financial security and more resources for child and elder care, there is the risk that more deprived families could be forced into situations where homes are overcrowded and strained. Single person households could experience increased isolation, by comparison.

A new, multi-purpose wellbeing facility is taking an innovative lead in supporting social connectivity and community in Newport city centre. The Hive on Stow Hill in Newport city centre offers a community, social and work space on the high street which embeds wellbeing, community building and placemaking at the heart of its approach.

Stow Hill, according to recent health inequality data, has the second lowest life expectancy in Newport, the highest level of welfare benefit claimants and is experiencing a population growth, largely made up of people in single and/or temporary accommodation. The Hive was developed in response to these changes in the ways of working in a post-Covid world.

Samantha Howells, Area Regeneration Manager for Pobl Group, said: “The Hive is a social and welcoming space, where people can come and be in a safe, inclusive environment, get support, meet a friendly face and get some of the basic jobs in life, like your washing, cooking, and homework done.

“Working alongside community gives us the chance to better understand some of the challenges people are facing and how we can come around them to support.”

Menna Thomas, Policy Officer for Public Health Wales’ Policy and International Health Directorate, said: “We live in a rapidly changing world that is seeing a constant evolution in how we live, work, spend our leisure time, and shape our relationships.

“The way we interact with each other and build our communities is likely to see continuing change as our online worlds expand and we begin to see technologies such as artificial intelligence having a deeper impact. At the same time, Wales’ demographic makeup is shifting as people live longer lives and have fewer children. These changes will impact our relationships and participation in social networks which has a direct influence on our health and wellbeing.”