From Social Infrastructure to Digital Inclusion: Six Themes Driving Our Work

Catie Varley 05.01.2026

Credit: Intergenerational England

A Glimpse into Our Research Journey Toward Connected Communities

As part of our research into creating stronger, more connected communities, the Centre team has identified six initial research themes to guide our work. Each theme is supported by a dedicated research group that brings together academics, professionals, and specialists to co-design and deliver impactful research.

Our Six Research Themes:

Social Infrastructure
Nature and the Built Environment
Relationships Across the Lifecourse
Digital Technologies
Systems, Institutions and Markets
Diversity and Place

To showcase our preliminary work on these themes, each research group prepared a poster for our first conference event, ‘All Together Now’.

Poster Titles:

Community Connectedness in Fracturing Times
Community Connectedness and the Economy
Digital Technologies and Community Engagement: Bridging Gaps through Inclusion and Literacy
Community Connectedness Across the Life Course: Exploring the Role of Meaningful Relationships
Deepening Social Infrastructure for Connected Communities
Spatial, Environmental, Cultural and Relational Aspects of Community Connectedness

You can now download all six posters (6.4MB PDF) and a supplementary reference sheet (57KB PDF) to explore each theme in detail.

Cite the Posters

Matthews, P. Ryan, L. (2026). Community Connectedness in Fracturing Times. The Centre for Collaboration in Community Connectedness. https://c4.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/C4_ResearchThemes_Posters.pdf

Crisp, R. Wells, P. (2026). Community Connectedness and the Economy. The Centre for Collaboration in Community Connectedness. https://c4.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/C4_ResearchThemes_Posters.pdf

Di Nuovo, A. Lockley, E. (2026). Digital Technologies and Community Engagement: Bridging Gaps through Inclusion and Literacy. The Centre for Collaboration in Community Connectedness. https://c4.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/C4_ResearchThemes_Posters.pdf

Green, S. Wigfield, A. (2026). Community Connectedness Across the Life Course:Exploring the Role of Meaningful Relationships. The Centre for Collaboration in Community Connectedness. https://c4.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/C4_ResearchThemes_Posters.pdf

Higgins, K. Layton, J. Terry, L. Macmillan, R. (2026). Community Connectedness Across the Life Course:Exploring the Role of Meaningful Relationships. The Centre for Collaboration in Community Connectedness. https://c4.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/C4_ResearchThemes_Posters.pdf

Cerulli, C. (2026). Spatial, Environmental, Cultural and Relational aspects of Community Connectedness. The Centre for Collaboration in Community Connectedness. https://c4.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/C4_ResearchThemes_Posters.pdf

Cite this article:
Varley, C. (2026, January 5). From Social Infrastructure to Digital Inclusion: Six Themes Driving Our Work. The Centre for Collaboration in Community Connectedness. https://c4.ac.uk/from-social-infrastructure-to-digital-inclusion-six-themes-driving-our-work/

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