Gaining a deeper awareness of my community through the Covid-19

The deeper we got into ‘lockdown’ here in the UK the more I noticed the hidden abundance in my neighbourhood and with my neighbours. I wrote this at the end of week 5 of lockdown, and I believe the Covid-19 pandemic is shining a light upon the abundance in our community, thinking of others and sharing what they have.

The restrictions on life have meant being able to pay more attention to my neighbourhood and I have found myself increasingly supressing my desire for activism (although this has arisen!) and wanting to be more attentive to what is emerging and happening on my doorstep. Many stories have emerged, and here is a flavour:

When a request went out by a local nurse for posters to put up in a ward at our local hospital, the response was astounding with posters from all ages showing gratitude, love and care.

When someone who received a food parcel had more than they needed, they were helped to find neighbours in their block to share it with, including sending onions up 8 floors in a lift (the image of the onions in a lift did make me chuckle!) When resources are focused, partnerships and relationships are formed to deliver food packages and meals to people and families, rather than by a stranger.

When a table and chairs are found in the local Bluebell woods there is an astounding response by people using their skills, passion and creativity to make activities for children to do and find ways to show gratitude. This inspired a tree house, multiple rope swings, a chalk drawn hopscotch, fairy gardens, and much more to spot as more and more people take their daily walk through the woods.

When someone saw a neighbour struggling with a pushchair on a flooded path, the wheel became dislodged, so they got their tools and quietly gave a day to fix it.

These are some of the many stories of kindness, generosity, concern, support, care, compassion, love, and friendliness. What has struck me about these stories has been how people have directly linked them to increases in their wellbeing, physical and mental health, safety, security, connection and inclusion (all outcomes policy makers and institutions crave!)

The asked for posters meant that a health key worker living in the neighbourhood became someone who local people wanted to thank personally. The community had come together to give thanks during this time of lockdown.

The neighbours who exchanged onions now call each other to check in, starting a new friendship.

The delivery of food leads to regular encounters, conversations, a sharing of games, puzzles, books, seeds, flowers, generous donations of cash or offers of help in return. This pays attention to our need to be more than just fed, to a need for companionship, friendship, shared loves, joys and interests.

The tree house and table in the Bluebell woods has led to a shared experience and a communal space for this time when we are physically apart.  It has led to (safe distance) conversations between people (both friends and strangers) on the walk as they pass each other, and on social media as they share what has been found.

The path being fixed by a neighbour led to a conversation, a personal thank you, and validation of skills and time given for others.

When I ask people ‘what are you valuing at this time?’ It has been a reminder of what matters the most, the importance of times when someone has made the effort to show they care, and the positive impact of when people have used what they have and realised they are enough.

There is a lesson here for ‘community builders’ in how we should be present. More widely, for policy makers & institutions (Public Health, Education, Social Care etc.) who approach our community believing there is something lacking, a scarcity, and they will have poverty and deprivation data to back this up. We believe if you show up expecting misery, you will find more misery! The pandemic is a call to pay attention to the abundance already present, and a desire to unearth it, embrace it, illuminate it, seek to learn from it, and find ways to nurture more of it. Imagine if delivery plans became discovery plans and needs assessments became asset maps!

This alternative approach does not deny that there are deep injustices, inequalities, issues and problems. Trust me we know they exist and live with them every single day. But we choose to embrace what we have and use what’s strong to tackle what’s wrong.