What is the value of your local community?

 What is the value of your local community?

An article on Scope tells us, "Communities play a pivotal role in promoting participation by serving as the foundation upon which social and civic engagement can flourish. They act as incubators for shared interests and values, providing a platform for individuals to come together, collaborate, and collectively address local issues." (reference Scope - The Importance of Social and Community Participation)

When you involve yourself in the fabric of your local community, you gain many benefits such as:

• friends!
• like-minded people who care about the same things that you do,
• teamwork,
• learning new skills and sharing your skills,
• mentoring others, 
• engaging in meaningful conversations 
• and achieving goals together.

Many other benefits come about because people in the community work together such as buildings, gardens, sporting events, festivals, raising funds to help those in need within the community, and building positive environments so those living in your local area have the opportunity to heal, to find a place where they belong.

How does your local community foster inclusion and opportunity for people to come together in like-minded activities?

Something as simple as a garden club where a group meets and visits each other's gardens, shares plants, and helps each other design new garden beds.

Maybe a group of men have decided to establish a "Mens shed" in the local town to promote  "bringing men together enabling them to lead a positive lifestyle while strengthening communities." (reference: https://mensshed.org/about-amsa/).

Other groups may be an amateur theatre company allowing people to present their on-stage flair or a festival committee that organises an annual community celebration.

Perhaps local markets that promote local produce and niche home-based businesses or a group of like-minded business people who get together to share ideas and encourage one another to build sustainable businesses in the local region.

Your local area may even have a group of like-minded individuals who work together to advocate on the community's behalf to the local council for improvements in your town.

How can you be positively involved and be part of the social fabric of your community?

Local Events in your community and region

Are you aware of the local events taking place in your community and region? Every week, communities across Australia plan, and host events to promote their towns, activities, festivals, and regular celebrations.

So how can you:

• find out about upcoming events
• participate in events
• promote events.

Finding out about events in your local community and region isn't all that difficult.  Simply begin by visiting your local information centre, googling, going to the local Facebook noticeboard for your town, or looking up your regional council events calendar.

There are always events and opportunities to connect with your community taking place.

For example:  Here in Yungaburra we have a monthly "Sunday afternoon in the park" event where local performers can showcase their bands and talent to our local community. (Reference: https://www.facebook.com/yungaburrarotunda).

My local community is always hosting events to encourage connection.  We have monthly markets, an annual book fair, monthly N-F-P group meetings for various interests, and groups that work together to promote our local environment, classic vehicles, sports, and the wider region.

Participating in events?  A suggestion is to simply attend some of the promoted events and take a look.  There's an opportunity to meet people and make connections.  You may find like-minded people and a group where you fit. 

Promoting events - what skills and talents do you have that could assist groups and n-f-p organisations to promote their events?  Can you use social media well or have the ability to write promos, take photos, or event planning?  Getting involved may mean some of your time, but your involvement helps to create a more positive community and a means of connection.

What do you know about your community?  How can you use your skills to enrich the area in which you live?