Military life can be lonely and isolating. Could coworking hubs be part of the solution? Our research says 'YES'.
Regular postings, sometimes as often as every two years for some regiments, take their toll on military families.
Partners away for long periods on deployment or operational training, leaving their spouses and partners holding the fort and juggling all the plates.
Regular loss of networks, personal and professional that have to be reestablished.
Unfamiliar locations and environments that need to be explored at pace.
Kids having to settle into new schools and find new friends, and you dealing with the fallout of their struggles and separation anxiety.
And for those military spouses and partners who work from home, there are even fewer opportunities and touchpoints to meet new people and network with their peers.
It's an unusual lifestyle. There is no real comparison in civilian life. And it’s tough.
Everyone needs their tribe. A sense of belonging. A community. A support network.
And in the context of military life that becomes increasingly important.
How the MCN is tackling loneliness and isolation within the military community.
Through our Online Community and Coworking Hub Network, we create opportunities for our members to connect.
They can also join our member-only Facebook Community Group, where they can ask for support and guidance in a safe environment.
Or join our online events.
But one of the best channels we offer to connect is via our coworking hubs as our 2023 Evaluation Report reveals:
Better connected, more respected.
Many military spouses and partners do not feel recognised by the military or the Ministry of Defence (MoD) that oversees and manages it, which affects their sense of self-worth and esteem, often leaving them feeling like second-rate citizens and undervalued.
However, through its support of the MCN and its Hub Network, the MoD has transformed that perception with 93% of all hub users stating that they now felt more recognised by the MoD, more valued and respected within the Armed Forces community overall, and, consequently, better connected to military life (83%). This has resulted in significantly reducing the sense of isolation and loneliness (60%) often felt by many military spouses and partners.
Networking and community.
73% stated that they had more opportunities to meet new people through the hubs, both socially and professionally. Being able to physically meet people and talk to them face-to-face made it so much easier to connect and stay connected than in a virtual environment.
47% stated that they felt that meeting new people had improved their social skills, making it easier to build a network and establish meaningful friendships.
59% of hub members said they had been able to grow their professional network through the hubs, and 60% had made more friendships through the hubs, which had positively impacted their social lives and improved their quality of life on base.
A whopping 68% reported that the hubs had enabled them to have a life outside of the military.
Finally, 37% made more connections on social media through the hubs, which not only helped them to grow their professional and social networks but also put them in good stead for their next posting, allowing them to connect in advance of arrival on a new and foreign base, thus reducing the mental stress of a relocation.
Better supported
72% reported that the hub had opened up important communication channels and given them unique access to critical support, both in a professional and personal capacity, which had contributed to both their career success and personal growth.
Conclusion
The hubs have played a massive role in reducing loneliness and isolation by enabling military spouses and partners to connect with their peers both professionally and socially.
They have opened up doors to new opportunities and new people, thus transforming their quality of life.
They have found their tribe, their community.
They feel supported and connected.
And if they are lucky enough on their next posting to land on a base where there is another coworking hub, they stay in that community. There is a sense of continuity. Of familiarity. All of which goes a long way to alleviating some of the challenges of frequent postings.
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