The best places to live tend to be those that offer a sense of community and belonging. Forging connections with your neighbours will allow you to call upon them in times of need. It can also be inherently rewarding to know who you’re living with.
If you’ve recently moved into a new-build house, or you’re thinking about making a move, then the prospect of setting down new roots can be daunting. But if you’re new to an area, you’ll enjoy a special advantage: you won’t have any existing public image to deal with. You can therefore shape your local identity right from the word go.
Unfortunately, modern life isn’t always set up to facilitate community-building. If you want to connect with those around you, you might have to put a little bit of effort in.
But how might you do that? Let’s take a look.
Start Local: Use Community Noticeboards and Facebook Groups
It’s worth starting with your immediate surroundings and working your way out. Locate your nearest community noticeboard and see what’s going on. Often, this can be a great starting point for identifying activities. Note that community noticeboards can be real physical objects, as well as digital spaces, like Facebook groups.
Attend Community Events and Markets
Spending time in your local community often means mingling at special local events. These might be church fêtes, school sports days, local music festivals, and council-run events. You might meet people here that you walk past every day without sparking up a conversation. Now’s your chance!
Volunteer Your Time or Skills
It might be that you can contribute to a worthy local cause with your time and skills. That might mean walking around in a group picking up litter, or helping out with a local charity shop. Doing these things is a means of contributing to the maintenance of the community and its environment – and it’s also a way to meet new people!
Support Local Businesses
If you’re in the habit of visiting your local chain supermarket or café branch, then you might miss out on a chance to support a local business and forge a relationship with the local proprietors. When you’re on first-name terms with these people, you’ll get a sense of belonging – and you’ll also be advised of goings-on in the area.
Walk, Don’t Drive: Discover Community on Foot
Getting around needn’t mean sitting behind a steering wheel. Walking from one place to the next can provide a valuable source of exercise. You’ll also have the chance to bump into local people along the way.
Join or Start a Hobby Group
The chances are good that there’s a local group dedicated to something that interests you. This might be jogging, art, music, or tabletop gaming. If there isn’t, then you might take the opportunity to set one up! Hobbies are a great way to meet new people and make new friends.
Make Use of Local Libraries and Community Centres
Local buildings, like community centres, village halls, libraries, and churches, often host special workshops, clubs, and other events. Find out what’s on, and make a point of attending. You never know who you might meet!