In an age where technology has transformed many aspects of daily life, some elements of community togetherness often get neglected.
However, some of the unique challenges that people have been forced to face this century have led to a massive resurgence in the prevalence of community spirit.
Supporting each other in times of need can be hugely rewarding and one of the best ways to achieve this can be through the staging of social games and events.
There are plenty of activities that people can engage in to bring communities together, so read on as we look at five of our favourites.
Street Bingo
Bingo has boomed in the 21st century, with some of the best bingo sites creating huge online communities where friends and family socialise and play games together.
This has had a knock-on effect to land-based versions of bingo, with the game being used as a vehicle to unite neighbours and friends in small communities.
Street bingo has been a perfect example of this recently, with some residents in South Wales, Shropshire and North Yorkshire raising their spirits by playing this iconic game outdoors.
The events served to bring the community together and reduce the effects of isolation for people who may otherwise struggle to enjoy a social life.
Pub Quizzes
Quiz nights are an excellent way to bring people together, particularly in areas where the local pub remains the central hub for community activities.
There is a particular skill to putting a good pub quiz together, particularly in an era where people tend to possess knowledge across a broad spectrum of subjects.
A broad base of general knowledge questions mixed with some sport, music and entertainment tends to work well and will appeal to a wide demographic.
As a tool for ensuring that people who live in small communities interact with each other regularly, you can’t go far wrong by hosting a pub quiz.
Swap Shop
Noel Edmonds hit gold with the TV series Swap Shop during the 1970s and 80s, tapping into people’s desire to trade their belongings with others.
Staging a swapping event can have both environmental and social benefits for communities, reducing the number of unwanted items going to landfill and helping people in need.
Swap shop events are generally cheap to host and are a great way for people to exchange the things they don’t want for items they can put to better use.
They also have the added benefit of allowing people to socialise in a friendly environment, thus fostering a great spirit within the local community.
Food Festival
Food Festivals are another fantastic way for small communities to come together and are staged regularly across the United Kingdom throughout the year.
A great example of this is Salisbury’s Food & Drink Festival which generally takes place during September in the Market Place and Guildhall Square.
Celebrity chefs such as Nick Nairn and Paul Rankin have taken part in previous events and always attract huge interest from local people.
With cookery workshops, food vendors, street entertainers and live music, Food Festivals are a great way to bring your community to life.
Bonfire Night
Bonfire Night remains a major annual tradition in the UK, providing the perfect platform for communities to meet up and have fun.
A bonfire and fireworks display always attract people out into the cold, regardless of whether they are young, old or somewhere in the middle.
Throw in some jacket potatoes, treacle toffee, toasted marshmallows and hot chocolate for the perfect way to celebrate this iconic occasion.
Although limited by being only able to stage the event on November 5, Bonfire Night is a wonderful way for small communities to gather together.
