Category: Community, Society & Nation

Volunteering in decline?

Volunteering

We read that six million people in the UK took part in The Big Help Out on Monday 8 May. The event – part of the coronation celebrations – was intended to “highlight the positive impact volunteering has on communities across the nation”. Six… Continue Reading “Volunteering in decline?”

A celebration of volunteering

Volunteering

You may or may not be a fan of the UK monarchy. You may or may not be interested in the upcoming coronation of Charles III. But even convinced anti-monarchists will surely applaud the fact that recognition of the work of volunteers and charities… Continue Reading “A celebration of volunteering”

Coronation Champions Awards

Coronation Champions Awards

The Royal Voluntary Service and Queen Camilla have teamed up to encourage the public to nominate volunteers for Coronation Champions Awards. The aim, in the words of the queen consort, is to “shine a light on the herculean efforts of our nation’s volunteers”. This… Continue Reading “Coronation Champions Awards”

The Big Help Out

The Big Help Out

Details have been announced this week of events taking place to celebrate the coronation of King Charles in May. As with the celebrations to mark Queen Elizabeth II’s platinum jubilee in 2022, there is an emphasis on community, and – in tribute to the… Continue Reading “The Big Help Out”

Active citizenship

Active citizenship

Simon Coveney, the Republic of Ireland’s foreign affairs minister, said in a speech recently that democracy is “our world’s most precious metal, but if it is not looked after, it tarnishes easily”. In the USA – a country with a long history of democratic… Continue Reading “Active citizenship”

A welcome social prescribing initiative

social prescribing

The Department for Transport has announced that walking and cycling are to be offered on prescription in a nationwide trial. ‘Social prescriptions’ will be offered by GPs as part of a new trial to improve mental and physical health. Evidence of success will include fewer GP… Continue Reading “A welcome social prescribing initiative”

Commonwealth Games and legacy

Commonwealth Games legacy

The Commonwealth Games ended on Monday, just a week or so after the women’s football Euro 2022 tournament. Both events served up a feast of high-quality sporting entertainment and were outstanding adverts for popular participation, inclusion and diversity. But the Commonwealth Games, in particular,… Continue Reading “Commonwealth Games and legacy”

School and community

Communities are central to modern life, and schools are central to communities. Theirs is a symbiotic bond. The recent Times Education Commission report has much to say about how schools and communities can and should work more closely. Community is at the heart of… Continue Reading “School and community”

Promoting community education

community education

A lockdown opinion poll found that 73% of people would like society to be more connected in the future; they wanted “a new, country-wide moment that celebrates communities and what we have in common.” Some of that spirit of community was shown during the… Continue Reading “Promoting community education”

Building stronger communities

Something like 17 million people in the UK took an active part in the recent Platinum Jubilee celebrations, according to the Together coalition, the organisation behind the Thank You Day campaign, who say their aim is “to build kinder, closer and more connected communities… Continue Reading “Building stronger communities”