We live in a world where it has never been easier to stay connected. We can speak instantly to someone on the other side of the world, join an online group with people who share our interests, and keep up with friends and family through our phones.

And yet, sometimes, we don't even know the name of the person living next door.

Loneliness has become an increasingly important issue in our society. And it isn't simply about being alone. You can be surrounded by people and still feel lonely. What matters is whether we feel connected, whether we feel that we belong, and whether there is someone we can turn to when we need help.

That matters for our health too. Strong social connections are an important part of our physical and mental wellbeing. We tend to think about health in terms of doctors, hospitals and medicines. But perhaps we should also be asking a rather different question: do people have people?

A prescription can't provide a friend. A GP can't create a community.

This is where the idea of resilient communities becomes important.

We usually talk about resilience in terms of things like flooding, extreme weather, pandemics or economic shocks. But resilience isn't just about how well our infrastructure withstands a crisis. It's also about how well we look after one another.

Imagine a community where people notice when an elderly neighbour hasn't been seen for a few days. Where someone whose home has been flooded knows who they can call. Where local volunteers can organise quickly because they already know each other. Where people aren't afraid to ask for help because they know they will be listened to.

Perhaps the most important infrastructure in a community isn't concrete and steel. It's relationships.

That means we need to think carefully about the places and organisations that create opportunities for those relationships to develop.

Community centres and village halls. Libraries, pubs and cafés. Parks and allotments. Sports clubs, choirs and walking groups. Voluntary organisations, faith groups and local shops. Community events where people of different ages and backgrounds can meet.

If loneliness damages our health, if isolation makes people more vulnerable, and if strong communities help us cope when things go wrong, then these aren't simply amenities. They are part of the infrastructure of a healthy and resilient society.

Of course, government has a role to play. We need places that are accessible, affordable and safe. We need good public transport and housing that allows people to remain part of their communities. We need to protect the local organisations that bring people together.

But community isn't something government can simply provide. It depends on all of us.

It might mean saying hello to a neighbour rather than walking past. Joining a local group. Volunteering. Inviting someone for a coffee. Going to a community event even if we don't know anyone there.

None of these things sounds particularly revolutionary. But perhaps that's the point.

We often look for complicated solutions to the problems facing society. Sometimes the answer starts with something much simpler: creating more opportunities for people to know one another and to feel that they belong.

A resilient community isn't one where nobody ever needs help. It's one where people know they don't have to face difficult times alone.

So what makes you feel part of your community? Where do you go when you want company? And if you could create one thing to bring people together where you live, what would it be?