Community wellbeing

Communities can be geographical (the places we live in, for example). People coming together in schools and workplaces are also communities. We might also form communities with those who have similar interests or experiences to us. And we might meet members of these communities in person or online.

Lots of things can affect community wellbeing:

Groups and networks that exist in communities and how they give people chances to connect and help each other.
The places and spaces where we live, work learn and play, and the quality of those environments, influence how we connect with others. They can help create a shared identity and sense of belonging.
How power is or isn’t shared within our communities, and whether people feel they have any influence and control over what happens in their lives. How organisations engage in the community and provide services is important.

Getting together is good for your mental wellbeing

Collective life and opportunities to connect with others is good for mental wellbeing. There is a strong link between how we feel about the places we live in and community wellbeing.

Collective life in a community can include activities such as getting together to go for a walk or joining ‘knit and natter’ groups, local art clubs or choirs. Being part of these activities and doing them with other people is good for our mental wellbeing.

Community is power

There are also wider benefits from living within an active community. For example, as individuals, we may feel we have no power or control over what happens in our community. But if we come together to talk about issues we care about, we can develop a sense of power to take action and make improvements.

We might gather a group of people from our area to try to make the roads safer by getting the speed limits lowered.

Or we might work together to make sure places like parks or libraries stay open and protected for everyone to use.

We might get together to improve a local park or green space. This can then be enjoyed by other and support their health and wellbeing.

Collective action by a group of people can have wider benefits for others in the community, helping to improve individual and community wellbeing.

Creating a sense of belonging

Strong communities are built on shared values and a shared understanding of life in a community. This supports social cohesion and a sense of togetherness and builds trust between people in a community and give us a sense of belonging.

In communities, places where everyone feels welcome, like community halls or parks, help people come together and do things as a group. This supports community wellbeing.

Feeling part of a community can help us feel like we belong, which is good for our mental wellbeing.