During the COVID-19 pandemic, I, like many people, experienced a deep sense of disconnection with others. Social distancing measures, lockdowns and working from home reduced physical and emotional contact for many of us.
Despite having a family, I became increasingly stressed and anxious about how isolated I felt, particularly from my community. How could I connect with others in my street and area after spending so long avoiding all sorts of contact?
Even after the pandemic faded into the background of everyday life, my sense of loneliness and disconnection persisted. I tried litter-picking in my local community to shore up the feelings and transform them into positive action. Still, these voluntary events were weeks apart, and in many cases, we separated across a vast green space, picking up litter alone.
