We are so lucky in our area of Cornwall to have such vibrant communities. For me, being a part of the community is one of the greatest joys of living in a village. Being part of a community can lead to wonderful experiences, from playing at being a shop-keeper in the community shop, or pasty judging at the local pub. But how do we preserve these institutions and traditions? Do we too often rely on the same people doing the work to make things happen? Here’s my short guide to being a community player. The first few points are (I hope) mandatory. The final few are ones to work towards.
- 1. Live in your community. Too many second homes kill communities. If you have a second home, do please consider renting it to a local person. If you work away and need two homes, then throw yourself into the community when you can.
- 2. Support your local businesses – shops, pubs, restaurants.
- 3. Support local events – plays, dances, bands. Without support organisers won’t have the resources to put more on.
- 4. Join a local club. There are lots, from gardening, yoga, dancing, art, mother and toddler groups, church groups and many more. Again numbers are important to make them work. If there’s something missing that you’d like to do, start up your own group!
- 5. Volunteer – this could be at a community shop, driving a community bus, delivering Nut Trees, helping in a community garden. This could be a little further afield in places that serve our villages, such as Liskeard Library or Livewire Youth Music. Find something you enjoy and meet likeminded people.
- 6. Become a member of a committee. Every group needs a committee to operate and are always glad of members.
- 7. Join the parish council. If you are a young person reading this, I particularly urge you to consider this, as councils are often short of young voices.
- 8. Take a post of chair, secretary or treasurer in a local organisation or council. It might seem daunting, but these posts are often difficult to fill and can be very rewarding.
A big thank you to everyone who already puts in time – you may not always feel it, but you are very much appreciated. To anyone who has yet to put a toe in the water, welcome aboard! Being part of your community is transformative and satisfying.
