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Your community Rekindle the Great British community spirit with these fun and rewarding ideas
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hen did you last check in with your neighbour or stop for a chat on the street? If you can’t remember, maybe it’s time to give your local community a little TLC. According to a survey, 68% of Brits would describe their neighbours as strangers, while half say they don’t feel part of a ‘good neighbourly community*’. But people do want to be connected, with 73% of 18 to 24-year-olds saying it’s important to be part of a community**. So whether you’re new to the area or just want to be more involved, we’ve got all the inspiration you need to get stuck in or become a catalyst for change in your community. 78
Sharing’s caring ‘The sharing economy’ – the use of technology to connect organisations so they can make better use of their services and spaces – might be a buzz term in the corporate world, but it can work in a positive way for communities too. While the internet can distance us from real interactions, it can also connect us if used in the right way. Many local areas have online ‘libraries’, where people can share anything from toys to power tools – as well as ‘buy and sell’ Facebook groups (like modern-day car boot sales), where you can pick up
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DID YOU KNOW? The happiest people in Britain are those who take part in community activities**
bargains, from pre-loved clothes to furniture. The upshot is that you make the exchange in person, providing an opportunity to meet someone new in your area. Apps play a part too. Food sharing app Olio invites users to post ingredients they have bought, or grown more of than they need, for others nearby to ã ¸ É ã¨ « ¨ Â Û ]«Á«» »÷ community fridges – where individuals, restaurants and businesses donate surplus food to a central hub for locals to take freely – tackle food waste and bond communities. You can even do your bit from the comfort of your own kitchen. Casserole Club