What a hive of activity this week has seen! The app group has been a pinging with offers of help and support. It’s amazing to think back, it’s only a few weeks ago when we were all strangers who lived alongside each other, connected by our post code and experience of Covid 19. Who would have thought that this unusual time would act as a catalyst to connect us as strangers through caring for each other .Neighbours have talked about living on this street for many years, getting to know a couple of people and now there appears to be a growing comradery , neighbour’s wanting to get to know each other, the start of something a little different.
What is striking is the increased positivity, neighbours going the extra mile for each other, demonstrating what can be achieved with a real we can do attitude to make things happen around here. As one of my Neighbour’s said “that’s what being in a community is all about, its real and it works, you are part of your community, it’s part of you .We don’t just talk about it round here, we want to make it happen”.
The VE celebrations provided an opportunity to reflect and build upon this new found comradery in the neighbourhood. A make do and mend approach during this Covid 19 “lock down” emerged, supermarket carrier bags recycled into flags and chalk on wall’s provided a visual art display. However, it was the neighbour’s innovation, spirit, creativity and energy that shone through to transform the street safely to celebrate VE Day where young and older generations shared their stories (whilst keeping the 2metre rule) and showed acceptance and tolerance towards each other. What became clear is that in this neighbourhood we have the knowledge, experience and a growing sense of purpose of how we would like our neighbourhood to be. We as a group are coming together to create change. It is a journey and the changes may be small but one thing we know is
“The Times They Are a – Changin”
Bob Dylan
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