Social Connections and Loneliness Research Project with Dr Carys Banks

Dr Carys Banks, from the University of Surrey, has been working with several learning disability provider organisations to explore loneliness and social connectedness among adults with learning disabilities. Part of the NIHR (National Institute for Health and Care Research), Dr Bank’s research also considers how staff can play a vital role in helping people build and sustain meaningful connections in their lives.

For the Social Connections and Loneliness Research Project, Dr Banks worked with our residents, Liam and Anna, from our Craft Workshop. They took part in a research project exploring social connections and loneliness among people with learning disabilities—the project aimed to understand these feelings through creative work and gentle therapeutic conversations.

Camphill MK’s involvement began in August 2025, when Liam and Anna were invited to join individual art therapy sessions led by Dr Carys and Emma, an art therapist. These sessions offered a safe space where they could express their thoughts and feelings through creativity.

Art Therapy Process

Throughout the sessions, both Liam and Anna engaged with honesty and openness. They explored feelings of loneliness that they often keep to themselves during everyday life. A strong sense of trust grew between them and the project team, making the sessions meaningful and supportive.

Alongside their individual work, Liam and Anna joined video-call discussions with participants from other organisations. This gave them the chance to share their experiences and connect with others who had taken part in similar sessions.

Filming and Workshop Visits (January 2026)

In January 2026, Dr Carys returned to Camphill with her filming team, Eleanore and Ken. They aimed to hear Liam and Anna’s selections and to capture their creative routines in the workshops. Watch it here!

Visit to the Art and Craft Workshop – Liam

Liam welcomed the team while working on a hand‑sewn soft‑toy cat, created from his own drawings. As a multi‑disciplinary artist, he often brings this character to life through ceramics, illustrations and textile work. He shared his process naturally and confidently.

Visit to the Weavery Workshop – Anna

The team then visited Anna in the Weavery Workshop. She has been working on weaving on the floor loom and has also been learning to turn her handwoven wool fabric—completed last year—into a backpack using the sewing machine. She presented her work with calmness and authenticity, showing her usual creative routine.

Community Welcome

After the workshop visits, everyone enjoyed lunch together, followed by a walk around the Camphill site. We ended the visit with tea and homemade cake from the Camphill Café. Although Liam and Anna were a little nervous at first, they quickly relaxed and became excited to share their artwork and welcome the team into their community.

Staff Reflections

Our Craft Workshop Coordinator, Emi Fujisawa, having completed the Art Therapy Foundation Course in 2015, was pleased to support this project. Throughout the process, she was touched by the trust that developed among Liam, Anna, Dr Carys, and her team.

The project reminded us that loneliness is something everyone experiences, even when surrounded by family, friends or support. What matters is having the space to talk, be heard and process these feelings at one’s own pace. This is an important part of what we aim to provide at Camphill Milton Keynes Communities.

Dr Carys expressed heartfelt thanks to Liam and Anna, recognising that their honesty and creativity will help others in this research, and said, “Spe” ding time with people at Camphill Milton Keynes has shown me how much is already being done to nurture connection, but also how much more we can learn about creating opportunities for meaningful connections for people with learning disabilities as part of the support they receive every day.”

Next Steps

The project is now moving into its next stage with our Care and Support Team. Artwork created by Liam and Anna during their sessions will be part of an exhibition that Dr Carys is currently planning.

Liam and Anna’s involvement shows how powerful creativity and gentle therapeutic work can be in understanding loneliness for people with learning disabilities. Their openness, trust and artistic expression have enriched the project, and their contributions will continue to support meaningful learning in this area.

We want to thank Dr Carys Banks and her team for allowing us to be a part of the project, and we look forward to learning more about social connections and loneliness.

Watch the short film from Dr Banks’ project below.