Chapter 9: Create and develop healthy and sustainable places and communities

At the beginning of 2021, a YouGov survey, (Wright O (1 January 2021) Our sense of community restored by Covid pandemic, The Times.), found that the coronavirus crisis has brought communities together and made Britain more cohesive as a society. Nearly 40 per cent of the public believed that Covid-19 had enhanced the 'sense of community' in the UK, as people came together to support one another.

People talked to neighbours they had barely met before, there was the weekly doorstep clap, the 'thank you' rainbows in windows and neighbourhood window trails at Christmas and Halloween. Mutual aid and community groups shopped and brought food to the vulnerable. People found new meaning in volunteering. Local businesses and schools have come to the fore as focal points for the community. 

At the start of the pandemic, I was furloughed from my job of nine years. This gave me a lot of spare time which was a novelty at first but after a while I realised, I was very lucky to still have an income from the Government furlough scheme and a lot of spare time and wanted to give something back. I saw a shared Facebook post where Gateshead Community Organisation were looking for volunteer drivers for a few hours once a week to deliver food parcels made up from Fareshare produce which they were distributing locally to those in need - for a small donation if possible, but free if necessary. Food waste has always been something I hate and for produce that would otherwise to go landfill to be made available to those that needed it made my decision to volunteer easy. Along with the fact it was only a few hours a week. I got chatting to people I delivered to and they were all very grateful - not just financially but also to have something delivered, especially during the times when people were wary of leaving the house because of the Covid risk.
 

Over a year later I am still helping out! I ultimately lost my job because of the pandemic and I now have a different job but can still spare a few hours once a week so I continue to volunteer. I have made new friends and I am proud to tell people I volunteer and get a lot of satisfaction for doing something to help others. 
Diane Malloy, Volunteer, Gateshead Community Organisation 

Local community services have really made a difference. Although people are turning to the internet, it shouldn't be forgotten that in times of need, it was local services like the community greengrocer or community pharmacies, local supermarkets that were really supporting people both physically and mentally. 
Community Pharmacist 

I think that the pandemic has made our role and relationship within the community much stronger. I think we've really made a difference to a community who needed it. That shared experience, we've all lived something really unique and appalling. We have done this together, with a clear focus to make sure children, staff and our community stayed healthy, happy, and safe whilst continuing to offer quality educational opportunities. I think there is now a different level of appreciation for the school in the community. 
Paul Harris, Headteacher, Gateshead Council 

Community organisations have experienced many challenges during the pandemic. 

Before Covid the centre was a lifeline for people. It was part of their lives. That changed in March 2020. Our lead volunteers were all on the vulnerable list. We were still providing support to groups and using Zoom. Shirley Bain, Volunteer Secretary, Leam Lane Community Centre. 

Now that the different groups and classes are back up and running, it is amazing that we can again provide that support. From service users turning up at our door in crisis, to be able to solve that, as well as then offer them ongoing support is immeasurable. The happiness they feel is visible through the change on their faces.
A lot of our service users are new to the area and, this, alongside the pandemic has meant it has been a very lonely time for them. Having our English classes back, has been a great way for them to not only improve their language skills but make friends and become more comfortable in their new community. 
Kate Meldrum, Deputy Manager, St. Chad's Community Project 

The success of communities coming together is leading to new thinking about how this can be built on moving forward. 

We need to broker a relationship between people, who are making decisions, and those people who are receiving those decisions. We need to get people out and about in the community to understand it. 
Sarah Gorman, Chief Executive Officer, Edberts House 

Next - Chapter 10: Strengthen the role and impact of ill health prevention