New research from The National Lottery Community Fund suggests the pandemic could lead people to make lasting changes to how they live their lives and the connections they build with friends, family and the wider community.

Almost eight in 10 people (79 per cent) say they will change their behaviour as a result of the pandemic, with an emphasis on enjoying a simpler more pared back life post-Covid.

Key changes include enjoying the simple pleasures in life more (47 per cent), spending more time with friends and family (40 per cent) and re-evaluating life priorities (32 per cent).

Unsurprisingly, the Covid crisis has put a greater emphasis on health, with almost a third (31 per cent) of respondents saying they intend to be healthier in future. The experiences of the last year have also made people want to be more neighbourly (31 per cent), kinder (23 per cent) and more environmentally friendly (25 per cent).

People are also optimistic that changes in behaviour brought about by the pandemic will be widespread. Of those who say they are part of a community, over half (51 per cent) think community spirit will be better in the long-run following the pandemic – just 10 per cent say it will be worse – while many agree that the pandemic will have a positive impact on the amount people care about others (50 per cent) and the environment (44 per cent).

In the last challenging year, those who felt part of a community felt that it gave people a reassuring sense of ‘we’re all in this together’ (50 per cent). They could see real benefits to being part of a community, including having people close by to help (37 per cent), a sense of connection with others (39 per cent) and a reduced sense of isolation (39 per cent).

However, the biggest benefit of all was being able to give others support (41 per cent), which confirms that helping others or volunteering brings its own rewards.

Siop Griffiths Cyf, a community enterprise in Penygroes is supporting the local community through the pandemic thanks to a £29,916 National Lottery grant, helping meet increased demand as the community faces new economic challenges.

The grant funded a partnership between Siop Griffiths Cyf and Co-Op to use food waste from the local store to make meals and distribute food bags for vulnerable people. The money has also helped develop a project to grow food for families by establishing allotments, a community wild garden and an outdoor learning area.

Ben Gregory, secretary of Siop Griffiths Cyf, said: “The project was developed in response to local needs and the feedback from the community and volunteers. We are very grateful to The National Lottery Community Fund - this funding has enabled us to further support our communities through the COVID-19 pandemic, and to employ more staff to develop the community response.”

Ruth Bates, Wales director at The National Lottery Community Fund, said: “A year of crisis has put communities in the spotlight and changed how we view and value them. We’ve experienced the benefits of support, kindness and being there for each other, and seen for ourselves the strengths communities bring. Our research suggests that the lessons learnt through the pandemic will be long-lasting and could change how we interact with each other in the future.”