Want to help the community you love, and be a part of making a positive change? Sometimes it can be hard to know where to start, but with these 6 small steps you can do just that.
1. Social Media
This might seem like an odd choice, but it’s a good place to start. First see if your community has a social media page; somewhere people can post for help, ask for suggestions and advice, or merely share important information for the community, such as new builds, school and health centre information.
If there is already a social-media page in place:
- See if anyone is asking for help, and whether you can assist. Personally I’ve used it to help someone with their internet, to track down the owner of a dog and to provide a newly single parent with beds for their children. The possibilities are endless.
- Advertise your availability to help, and what with e.g. DIY projects, food trips, company for the elderly etc.
If there isn’t a social media page:
- Why not set one up? Decide on the best platform, taking into account the demographic of your community.
- Set up guidelines and rules on how to use the page.
- Invite friends and family from the community to help get it started
- Advertise its availability and usage in local shops, paper and community centres.
PLEASE NOTE: It’s great to help a stranger, but never meet them alone and let people know where you’re going and what you’re doing.
2. Elderly assist
If you have any elderly neighbours, see if they need any help, whether it’s with mowing the lawn, helping to combat loneliness, such as reading a book or with a phone-call, shopping, or even walking their pet.
3. Donate
Tried and tested, and it works – donate!
- Donate arts and craft supplies to your local crèche or primary school.
- Set-up a food bank in your local supermarket, or help one that already exists.
- Donate furniture, bedding, lights etc to local shelters.
- Donate clothes, books and DVDs to hospitals; which are normally in need of clean clothes for people involved in accidents/or are on the poverty-line/or are homeless, while books and DVDs are much-needed items to help entertain patients and improve their well-being. Contact your local hospital first to see what they need. Charity shops will always have a need for these items too. Meanwhile, for any tatty clothes (for we all have some) put these into nearby clothes banks, as the material gets recycled.
- Donate magazines to your local doctors.
Image is courtesy of Markus Winkler from Unsplash
4. See an Issue – Report It
You might be thinking, well duh!! But shockingly far more people hear and see an issue than ever report it. This is because of something known as the bystander effect; you might hear/see someone needing help in your community, but because it’s in a community setting, people assume others will take action instead. Because of this, it often ends up that no one helps. It doesn’t hurt to call the police, fire or an ambulance, so do it.
Image is courtesy of Miryam León from Unsplash
5. Campaign
Find out if your community would benefit from a change, improvement or something new, such as playground equipment, a larger health centre, green space. If you’re passionate about it, others will be too.
Start a campaign on the change you want to see: post about it online; hang posters and signs; create a petition; or if appropriate a crowdfunding page. To gain attention and support ask your neighbours, friends and family to pass on the details of your campaign to others. Pretty soon you can have all the support you need.
6. Shop Locally
Surely the easiest thing in our list to do is to support your local business by taking the time to shop there, rather than online. What’s more, try local wildlife-friendly produce you – might just be surprised.
Enjoyed this article? Check out our 6 Small Ways to Help Wildlife.
