In the second of our series of blogs reflecting on the ‘Where People Meet’ report, Sam Kirkby, Manager of the Sutton Centre in Bradford, articulates why physical assets are so important for communities and shares his main takeaways from the New Local research.
As long as humans have existed, we have found common spaces to gather. From market squares to trading halls, institutes to public houses, village halls to religious buildings – and community centres. The need to connect with others and find belonging in communities isn’t something new.
Where People Meet, a new report from New Local and the Rayne Trust, isn’t about a big, shiny, new concept. It’s about recognising our need for spaces that represent local communities across the UK, for places that people collectively call ‘theirs’.
During the pandemic, as our movements and freedoms were restricted, the need to find support on our doorsteps and within our neighbourhoods became increasingly clear. Now we live in an age of ‘permacrisis’, where local support is more vital than ever.
Through this research, New Local and the Rayne Trust have gathered and amplified local people’s voices alongside those of statutory services, funders, policy makers, and community centre frontline staff to create a vision for the future – how we can dream up, shape and build high quality, well-resourced community centres that are at the heart of communities across the country.
This vision recognises that spaces like community centres that support local people are not a ‘luxury’, but a must have if we want to see communities across the country thrive and develop.
The take away piece from this report for me is that communities need a physical asset where they can access support and build connections. In this digital era, we are told that we are more connected than ever before and yet more people are experiencing social isolation. Community centres create opportunities for memories to be made, fostering connections between parents and children, older people, young people, professionals and organisations.
We all have a desire to belong. Your local community centres is a place where you can contribute, a place where you can be yourself, and a place where you belong.