Tag: community

Making a Difference: How to Enhance Your Community

Daily writing prompt
How would you improve your community?
View all responses

One of the most effective ways to improve the local community is by asking the local population what they want and need. By doing so, we can identify the areas that require attention and work towards making a positive change.

a circle of people all with hands piled on top of each other in support.
Photo by Dio Hasbi Saniskoro on Pexels.com

For instance, while there are several local play areas, most of them are not inclusive. As a result, children of different ages and abilities are unable to engage with each other, creating an invisible divide. To address this issue, I would strive to make these play areas more inclusive, ensuring that all children can use them and interact meaningfully with each other.

In addition, I would encourage local businesses, schools, and clubs to instil community values across all ages. This would help foster a sense of pride in the area and its people, encouraging everyone to look after each other and the community as a whole.

a country road through trees,
Photo by Darwis Alwan on Pexels.com

By working together, I believe that the community can demand better infrastructure, such as improved road and pavement conditions, more doctors and dentists, and even a swimming pool and cinema. These amenities would not only improve the quality of life for residents but also attract more visitors to the area.

To support local businesses, I would propose reducing commercial rent for a set period and providing assistance to new businesses applying for grants. This would help prevent empty buildings on the high street and elsewhere, benefiting both landlords and the community.

Overall, by listening to the needs of the community and working together, we can create a more inclusive, vibrant, and prosperous local community.

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The best care?

So many people out there need that little bit of extra help, or care, if you prefer to use that word. But, what is the best care to give them?

Everyone is an individual who needs someone or something else in their life to help it be a life full of fun and quality living, not just living, but being alive and feeling alive!

What a disabled child, or disabled adult needs in the way of care will differ between each individual, but it’ll also be very different to what a frail 88 year old beds for example.

There isn’t a one answer solution, which means absolutely NO, no way should care homes be the automatic standard solution given and recommended by local (or national) government providers.

Fears over ‘catastrophic’ policy that could force disabled people into care homes

They struggle to give suitable support now, and that’s generally for pretty much one age range, the elderly. Who all each have their own needs, even the elderly vary so much. Some people choose care homes, and that’s a choice which should be recognised as theirs to make.

They may feel unable to cope day to day safely at home, and prefer to have the reassurance of help being nearby, and the social goings on, as well as being surrounded by a small community whist having their own private room and bathroom.

A huge number of those who need care of some sort to help with daily life, are of working age, quite a few actually do work in someway, whether it be going to work, working from home, running their own business, or in a voluntary capacity either in the community or from home. Now this would immediately become impossible for most if they were compelled to give up their existing life and move into a care home – bare in mind that there’s no guarantee as to where that place would be, it might well not even be local to where they live now.

Others are unable to work, but still with the right support are able to manage living at home and have a thriving social life, should they be expected to just give that up? I think not. There lives aren’t any less important than the people who are rich and famous, or those who run big businesses. Who are we to say sorry, but your life doesn’t matter.

The best care, is the care that adds value and independence for each individual person. Everyone gives back to their community in some way, whether it just be a fantastic smile and greeting that makes the other person happy and improves their day, or they run a local charity event. We all touch our community in a way, but some just need that little bit of extra time and care so they can join in with and share that sense of community and give back in their own unique way.

Let’s care in the best way as both a community, but also as nation. #bekindalways

Today.

Well the day started off with a pissing wet walk, 3 1/2 miles with the dog. One of us enjoyed it, guess which one, no not me.

Got back and had a cuppa to warm up again. Then got a few bits tidied away before pizza for lunch, in case you’re wondering it was pepperoni.

The next-door neighbour popped in briefly, much to the dog’s delight. The neighbours are lovely and always make a fuss of him.

Had a browse online of my social media accounts, e-mails etc…. now gotta sit down and do some quite frankly boring paperwork, but……. it’s in a good cause so will be worth the time spent doing it, yes I am finally going to be employing a P.A. (Personal Assistant) which is going to make life so much easier and allow for some spontaneity in my life and enable me to see friends and family more often hopefully as they’ll be driving my car as well as helping with other tasks that I need help to complete.

Well, have a absolutely fabulous afternoon while I spend a few hours doing the paperwork.

A box full of paperwork.

Important Day for inclusion.

Yesterday I went to Portcullis House in London to take part in the official launch of the Disabled Citizens’ Inquiry. This aims to make walking & wheeling more inclusive for us all, and to give disabled people a voice in the process.

https://www.sustrans.org.uk/our-blog/research/all-themes/all/disabled-citizens-inquiry/?fbclid=IwAR1eWAS6BR4AD0nDmIMzMps7Ra0WqLFTXpmdx27PYJNOW1v8ps5Jggo1E-g

Changing Places, Norwich.

I had to go to Norwich (UK) yesterday, and by chance discovered that Chantry Place shopping centre has a changing places loo. It’s on the dining terrace level, and requires a radar key to access it.

It was later in the day, and the centre was quiet so I decided to pop and take some photos so people might be aware of it, and the facilities provided in there.

There’s a bench for changing, or if you need time out of a chair to stretch for a short time etc…. a hoist, bars by the loo, a height adjustable sink with controller to the taps/plug/light for mirror above the sink, there’s also two hand dryers one’s lower down with a fun themed picture on it. Also there is a screen which is movable if required.

Room to transfer from either side of the loo, though you may need to move that yellow bin, I’m not certain about that. The red cord was hanging down to almost floor length, and hadn’t been tied up like so many are.

No Internet.

Well, the phone line has a fault so no Internet connection here at the moment.

I am writing this as a note on my mobile phone, then will be able to copy and paste it onto my blog once the WiFi is up and running again.

Its weird not having the instant access to the world that we have all become accustomed to. No up to the minute weather forecast, or news, no notifications that someone has added a new article to their blog, no funny photos via WhatsApp or social media, can’t send or receive emails either.

Most places I go to provide WiFi access, so my data allowance is kept small as it’s generally unnecessary most of the time, and saves money too.

This takes me back to those days in my far distant past where there was no home Internet, or the actually more frustrating era known as dial-up, where you got knocked offline everytime the house phone was used. Man that was so annoying!!

Children and teenagers of today would struggle to imagine life without Internet at all. It is used for almost every sector of our lives, from communication, education, health care, entertainment, banking etc…..

Would you be happy to live in a world where Internet didnt exist after having experienced it?

I’d be happy to live in a world which is far less instant, but feel that the possibilities provided by the Internet and modern technology outweigh the negatives.

Imagine having lived throughout lockdown without any Internet, we’d have been excluded from the world at large, and even from local friends and family. It would have caused so much more isolation, no video calling to catch up with and check in on people to see how they were getting on.

This ability was incredibly vital during lockdown, as you weren’t allowed to spend time with others, and couldn’t even visit dying loved ones in hospital. It allowed some families to say their last goodbyes, not in person, but the nearest that was possible.

Alexa enables people to live more independently, she can open and shut windows, turn lights on, set reminders for medication & appointments, read audio books online, find information for someone who can’t physically hold a book or use a computer.

Gosh, isn’t technology incredible when you actually sit down and think about all the things it helps us to do.

At least Covid was tidy.

I don’t want to, but feel I need to talk rubbish!

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During the main Covid19 lockdowns in the UK I couldn’t help but notice something. People were suddenly so far more appreciative and caring of the countryside.

Far more people were out and about walking, running, cycling and wheeling around the local countryside roads than I’ve ever seen, before or since.

That was natural, everyone was bored of looking at the same 4 walls each day. So outdoors was the only option, places were closed and social distancing was the order of the time.

Photo by Karolina Grabowska on Pexels.com

I noticed that despite the massive increase in people, and their dogs. The verges were so much cleaner and tidier, people were taking their rubbish home, or dropping it in a bin on their way. They were also going out litter picking cleaning up after others who didn’t quite get the fact that looking after nature is our collective responsibility.

Sadly I am now noticing that the levels of rubbish, empty bottles, wrappers etc … are being dropped and left again. We really haven’t learnt have we.

Am I the only one.

Am I the only one who’s not feeling at all Christmassy yet?

I’m not quite sure why. I love Christmas but that buzz just isn’t there this year. Maybe it is because the weather isn’t what we are used to at this time of year, there are still plenty of leaves on the trees, the wrong plants are still in flower or trying to be. Here’s one example of this – photo taken in the UK on the 2nd of December.

See what I mean, strawberries shouldn’t be attempting to grow at this time of year!

Another thing is, I find it difficult to feel all Christmas cheery when I am so aware there are families out there who are struggling to survive day to day, and are worried about that and on top of that, they worry about letting the children down this Christmas.

If you see someone who is struggling, please give them a little help. Remember, help can be given in many different ways, it doesn’t have to be financially. Maybe you have a few hours spare each week and could help with the children while they grab some overtime, or maybe you have spare eggs from your own chickens, but most importantly just sit down with them and listen. Then they’ll know you care!

Cost of food, and not wanting people to know you’re struggling – or determined to pay your way.

Ok so by now most people are aware that foodbanks exist, I wish there wasn’t a need for them, but many are in need, and they help so much. Also many Churches will help if you’re in a tight spot and need a bit of extra support.

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But, there are others who are struggling just as much but are too embarrassed to use food banks, or have been brought up to always pay their way whatever the circumstances. Only the other day I was party to a conversation on this subject. Someone was talking about a place that provides free food – not a foodbank, but the food is provided for nothing. I had to explain that these kinds of places are available for absolutely anyone to use as often as they wish, they are available across the country (UK) run by various people independently and purely with the intention of reducing food wastage.

Photo by Engin Akyurt on Pexels.com

The food is perfectly safe to eat, but is often short dated, or on the last day where it cold have been sold, so stores donate it to reduce the amount thrown away. Also some people who grow their own produce and have a surplus supply give some to these places – often called community fridges, or pantry’s. If you are interested in these either for an environmental or financial point of view, please please make some enquiries in your local area and find out what’s  available. You could even come back and leave a comment if you find and use one near you.