Experiences of community connectors supporting activities during COVID-19

During the COVID-19 pandemic, community connectors (CC’s) were key to continuing to offer opportunities for engagement in activities yet frequently this involved rapid reorientation of services and working through significant change and disruption for workers themselves. The aim of this research was to explore how CC’s from two Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) organizations in the UK continued to engage people in activity during different phases of the COVID-19 pandemic. A qualitative design was developed with CC’s participating in three focus groups between May 2020 and August 2021. Data were analyzed thematically, with the final themes of “Disruption,” “Exploration” and “Rebuilding” mapped to the grief-construct of Kubler Ross (1969). The findings describe responses and coping strategies during COVID-19 and can support CC’s and organizations to reflect on wider periods of change and growth. Findings also emphasize the central role of VCSE workers during continued rebuilding of community activities following COVID-19.