Residents in retirement living communities are active contributors to community life, bringing skills, knowledge, and leadership that build and enhance community wellbeing, within and beyond their villages. This presentation draws on practice-based examples from retirement living communities to examine how resident-led initiatives contribute to social connection, participation and wellbeing. The presentation draws on documented examples and reflections from retirement living communities, highlighting resident initiated sustainability projects, charitable, creative, and social activities, and peer led learning. These include partnerships focused on environmental impact, as well as activities such as peer led shared cooking and arts sessions that respond to community interests while drawing on residents’ existing strengths. Collectively, these initiatives demonstrate how small, locally driven actions can generate meaningful social outcomes. The presentation demonstrates how supporting resident leadership and community‑based development strengthens social connection, fosters a sense of contribution, and enhances wellbeing. It also examines the role of retirement living providers in creating the conditions for resident‑led initiatives to emerge and be sustained, including listening to resident ideas, shared-decision making and reducing barriers to participation. Together this evidence reframes retirement living as a space not only for housing or support, but for creativity, service, and mutual learning. This presentation highlights the contribution of resident‑led initiatives in generating meaningful personal and collective benefits, and their relevance for practice approaches that position older people as active agents in asset-based community development, with applicability in retirement living and the broader community.