WHAT IS A COMMUNITY?

There are many different types of community, and you can belong to more than one. 

A community is a group of people brought together through something which they share in common. It can be found with either the people who live around us in a geographic location or with people we connect with through similar values and interests. You might find your community at school or work, through your faith, at a club where you enjoy a hobby, as part of a group inspiring action for positive change, an online game, or even through a love of Taylor Swift. 

Importantly, a community should make you feel good about yourself, feel safe, and feel empathy towards others. A community is there to help you through the hard times such as illness, bereavement, or natural disasters. Throughout covid we saw so many examples of communities coming together to support one another, find joy, and ensure that those most in need were looked after.    

Of course, not all communities are safe or healthy. If a community makes you think badly of yourself, encourages hateful or discriminatory actions towards others, or puts you in danger, it will be damaging to your mental health and wellbeing. Throughout the week we’ll also be talking about how to recognise and protect yourself and loved ones from harmful spaces.

SPENDING TIME WITH SUPPORTIVE PEOPLE (SOURCE ANNA FREUD)

We all need people in our lives we can turn to when we’re struggling, whether for a deep discussion or just a chat. It can take the pressure off of needing to seem ‘okay’ just for a little bit because you know you can trust them. This could be a friend, family member, teacher or mentor- it doesn’t matter as long as you feel safe and able to be real with them. Sometimes we just need a listening ear or a shoulder to cry on, other times advice can be really helpful.

Sometimes I get myself into such a tangled mess in my brain that I just need someone to talk it out with. I don’t need an expert just someone to listen. There’s a teacher at my school who is really good to go to.

If you’re not sure who to go to that you trust or can’t think of anyone in your life at the moment why not contact your local voluntary centre. They often have lots of knowledge around local charities and there are lots of organisations out there that exist specifically to provide young people with mentors and people they can talk to. 

In this video, Dr. Roslyn Law gives some advice about how being around supportive friends and family or other trusted individuals can help you if you're feeling low or anxious or struggling with poor mental health.

It’s important to recognise that ideas below may not apply to everybody, and that, while in-person communities appear to have a benefit over digital communities generally, mental and physical health conditions may be a barrier, impacting your ability to engage with in-person groups. For example, you may have a physical disability, chronic pain, or experience a mental health condition such as agoraphobia or anxiety.

Whether forming your own community or finding one suited to your needs, the following list has been created to prompt your own consideration and ideas for ways you can find and cultivate communities in your life.

• Join a club or organisation with people who share your identity or values Whether that’s a local group for marginalised communities or a group dedicated to an idea you care about, this can be an excellent way of meeting others and fostering a sense of purpose and belonging, which is fundamental to psychological wellbeing. This might be a church or spiritual community, an activist group, or a discussion group.

• Support groups Support groups are often led by mental health or other professionals and cover a wide range of conditions, including mental and physical health struggles. They also include groups such as 12-step groups for addiction, such as alcoholism, drug use, and gambling addiction. Support groups are especially helpful during difficult times, and having that mutual support can not only bring lasting benefits to your own experience, but help foster deeper connections with others. You can find support groups in your area by searching the Hub of Hope directory.

• Volunteering Giving back to the community is a wonderful way to improve our wellbeing, especially if it’s volunteering to a cause you care about deeply. You might volunteer at a homeless or animal shelter, help to clean up the local environment, or simply spreading the word about an issue that affects your community. There are many resources for finding volunteering opportunities. For example, Doit features volunteer opportunities from charities across the United Kingdom; you can search the GOV.UK directory for volunteer opportunities; and Get Volunteering features a directory of volunteering opportunities based on area of interest or based on your skills.

• Get to know your neighbours Especially prevalent since the COVID-19 pandemic, there might already be groups dedicated to your local community, such as supporting elderly or vulnerable people living close to you. These can easily be found via your local library, or simply by talking to others in your neighbourhood. While we may not be as close to our neighbours as we used to be in times gone by, striking up a conversation with your neighbours, or offering your help if they might need it, can go a long way to fostering a sense of community right on your doorstep.

• Online groups While we have made a case for digitally led lives contributing to loneliness, it is also true that the internet can be an excellent bridge towards (and not a substitute for) connection with others. You might find volunteering opportunities supporting a digital project, support and discussion groups, or organisations sharing your values. While it’s important that we still cultivate an in-person community, digital groups can offer a lot of good — especially when you may be restricted due to a health condition.

• Activity groups Activity groups have also seen a resurgence since the COVID-19 pandemic. Book clubs, knitting, board game evenings, craft groups, walking and running groups, yoga classes, and more can easily be found via a simple search on Google, on social media, or by checking your local council’s website. This is a great way of meeting others with similar interests and getting involved with a community.

• Connect or reconnect with friends and loved ones It’s easy to find the pressures of living getting in the way of connecting with others, and it’s not uncommon to go for weeks, months, or even years without rekindling the connections we’ve already made. Perhaps there is somebody you used to meet regularly but haven’t seen in a while. It might feel awkward at first, but it’s worth reaching out to that person, letting them know you’re thinking of them, and asking if they’d like to meet up. It’s tough to put ourselves out there (especially if we already struggle with anxiety or fear rejection), but it’s important to continue to cultivate the connections we’ve already made. When you do meet up with someone, focus your attention entirely on them. Ask them how they are, put the phone away, and reconnect.

However you choose to find community in your life, it can be a profound way of promoting positive mental health, structure and routine, which are essential for maintaining good mental health. The very act of coming together with others and sharing our experiences or troubles, or working towards a shared goal, generates positive emotions and sustains our mental health during difficult times. Human beings are social creatures, so community is incredibly important for our overall sense of wellbeing and happiness. 

Internet Matters   
Finding community and building positive relationships online is a major part of many young people’s lives. But how do you ensure they do this safely?

Martha Evans (Anti-Bullying Alliance), Ashley Rolfe (Kidscape) and Allen Tsui (Willow Brook School) share their insights and tips for parents in this expert article from Internet Matters.

Click on the links below for information on:

• Benefits and opportunities for young people communicating online
• The differences between offline and online communities
• Tips for parents to support kids in safe online communities
• Examples of safe online communities for kids and teens
• Supporting resources 

Wednesday - Just Dance in the Sports Hall!

Thursday - Wear it Green Day

Friday - Community colouring in the Base