When it comes to acts of kindness, you don’t always need to do something big to make a huge difference. A simple good turn, such as paying a stranger a compliment or picking up litter in a park, can improve your connection to your local community and, of course, actually improve your local community!
Giving back to the neighbourhood in which you live is a wonderful way to forge lasting relationships with your neighbours, help those in need, and bring some positive energy to a world which is, currently, sorely lacking in it. Not to mention, doing a good deed can bring benefits to your own sense of wellbeing, too, improving everything from self-confidence to, potentially, even your levels of natural immunity.
What’s not to love? Today, we’re exploring a few simple ways to give back to your local community today.
Get To Know Your Community
If you want to help the people around you but have no clue how to do it, then the first thing you need to do is get to know your local community. Speak to your neighbours, attend local events, and visit independent cafes and shops in your area. By liaising with the people in your community, you are more likely to find out where you can do the most good and what you can do to help.
From there, you can determine where you might be able to lend a hand most helpfully, whether you’re participating in a Befriender’s scheme that connects volunteers with vulnerable people, serving customers in one of Shelter’s shops or simply donating a few necessary items to a food bank each time you visit the supermarket. Speaking of which…
Donate To Food Banks
With nine out of ten councils in England seeing a rise in food bank use last year, and with the cost of living crisis being keenly felt by 87% of the British public, your support has never been more necessary.
Food banks count on the local community for food donations in order to help feed hungry families in need of a good meal. By making regular donations to your local food bank, or by volunteering your time working in one, you can help people who truly need it within your community.
As the Trussel Trust reports, some of the best ways you can help include donating directly to your nearest food bank, leaving food, both fresh and canned, in collection points at supermarkets (these are usually by the tills or at the exit), and by hosting a collection at your school, church or business.
Organise A Collection, Street Party Or Other Fundraising Event
Organising a street party is a great way to get people together and have fun in your local area, all while raising money for a good cause.
In the UK, there is a long-standing tradition for residents to throw street parties in commemoration of national events. For example, VE Day, Jubilee Days, and Royal Weddings are popular celebrations that are commemorated on many streets throughout the UK, usually with the aim of earning money to donate to charity, via the sale of cakes, lemonade and the rest. Lovely stuff!
It’s not only about charity, though. Organising an event in your community can help break down barriers and foster healthy relationships between neighbours. If your neighbours are game, get everyone involved and begin planning. Street parties are often funded by the community, which means there are usually very few costs involved for the individual. People usually enjoy chipping in food, beverages, and entertainment.
Expenses for things like decorations, paper cups, hot drinks cups, and disposable plates can be covered with donations, local business sponsorship, or with a tombola or a raffle on the day. Just make sure you look into the legality of raffles beforehand to ensure you stick to the rules!
Read: 5 IDEAL tips on how to organise a successful fundraising event in your city
Buy Local
You can also engage more closely with your community and support your local economy by shopping at local stores and farmer’s markets run by independent business owners. These establishments either produce the goods themselves or source them locally. The decrease in travel time means that air pollution and fuel consumption is reduced, too. Furthermore, shopping locally can help protect the local workforce and local wildlife… There really is no reason not to, it seems!
Offer Your Expertise To Those In Need
If you have a particular area of expertise that you think would be useful to a charity or local community group, then lending your knowledge can be a wonderful way to help a charity without actually donating any money.
Charities and community groups need all manner of expertise in areas associated with both altruism and business acumen. For instance, they might need to bring in digital and traditional marketing agencies, website designers, content writers, chefs, event planners, and many more roles besides. Rather than a charity having to use donations to hire people for such roles, many are fulfilled through the generosity of volunteers. And that, my friend, is where you come in!
If that’s caught your attention, check out our tips on some great ways you can help charities that don’t involve donating money. We’ll see you at the next fundraising event!
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