subject: The Importance Of Communities [print this page] Human beings are socialHuman beings are social. From a young age you are taught to look after those around you, helping out the elderly and aiding friends in need; and with a need to be part of a social group, people bond to avoid isolation.
Usually a community refers to a group of people living in a common geographical location, though languages and cultures can also separate communities. This group of people obeys social norms and often has some common denominator, which has brought them together, whether it is their cultural differences, a mutual goal or a specific place of residence.
Throughout many towns and villages in the United Kingdom, the neighbourhood watch scheme is in place. This trust is a charity which aims to promote better home security and involve communities in best practice with regards to looking after each other. They help members to understand ethnic groups, differing age ranges and different classes in society.
The neighbourhood watch movement covers over 6 million households in the UK, ranging from small schemes that cover twenty or so homes in a single street, to whole county-wide associations involving thousands of members.
Communities can also help to keep watch on those closest to you.
Mothers of your child's classmates will instinctively look out for the safety of your child as well as theirs, and often communities are formed by mothers and by groups of parents with children attending the same school. This is important, as mothers groups can allow for a "time-out" from isolation when home alone, and can be especially helpful as a support network to get through periods of detachment or even depression. With more than one watchful eye on children, communities help to increase child safety within an area.
Looking after the elderly in the neighbourhood is also important. Within a small community people tend to be aware of who lives around them and create location-based bonds, ensuring that if there is a problem they are able to get involved and help. This has been especially relevant this year with poor winter weather, resulting in some members of the public not even having the ability to leave their homes.
In snow and ice, the elderly struggle to get provisions and may also have problems with warmth in their homes. Many people within communities will strive to help those who are incapable of helping themselves during this time, and this camaraderie results in food supplies being delivered and bringing round that extra quilt that can really help an elderly person in need.
In today's society it is often considered that the sense of community has been somewhat lost with people tending to fend only for themselves. However, recent events, such as severe snow in Newcastle, have shown that a sense of community is not dead. Here, farmers used their tractors to pick up midwives living the area, and took them to work in the local hospital. Had it not been for these people pulling together in this time of need then there would have been no way in which the nurses could have got to work.
Community spirit is as significant today has it ever has been and it is important to remember to look after those around you.
