Tell Co-op how you would bring your local community together - chance to win a £300 voucher! NOW CLOSED

[EllieMumsnet]

Making a difference within our local community is something most of us would like do or are already a part of. To coincide with their push for more Member Pioneers Co-op would like to find out what you would do to bring your community together and how the Co-op might help.

Sarah MacKenzie from Co-op says: “At the Co-op, local communities are so important to us. In fact we're currently looking for Co-op Member Pioneers to help bring people together and make a real difference where they live. Member Pioneers are a network of individual members on the ground to make good things happen in communities across the UK. They do this by connecting and mobilising members, colleagues and local causes locally to do what matters most to them - arranging local meetings and events, encouraging volunteering and co-operation in their local community.

If anyone is interested in applying to be a Member Pioneer themselves, they can find out more here. We're always looking for ideas about events and initiatives the Co-op or our Member Pioneers could help with or organise and we'd love to hear what MNers think.”

So if you could do something to help bring your community together, and make it a better place to live and work, what would it be? Would you organise a big event? Set up a weekly coffee morning? Are you a keen fundraiser or a fan of a street party?

Whether you are already involved with your local community or just have some good ideas for things you’d like to do, share your thoughts below and you will be entered into a prize draw to win a £300 voucher of your choice (from a list).

Thanks and good luck

MNHQ

Standard insight T&Cs apply

I think I would like regular walks and outings for all in my area.
We live next to some nice hilly areas and this would be good excercise for both the young and old.

I've been thinking about this lately, as where I live is traditionally a place that people retire to.
We hear a lot about the damaging effects of lonliness on older people, and I wonder if a lunch club might help to give them some company and perhaps form friendships. Even once a week would help.

I was thinking something simple like soup and home made bread, really it's not about the food, it's about companionship.

The Co-op could help by possibly providing some ingredients, and adverising the event in-store (there is a local Co-op).

Small things help so much - just saying hello when you walk down the street, or lending s neighbour something or giving away fruit from your trees etc...

A street party! Everyone could bring 1 thing & we all share

I moved to the town I currently live in 5 years ago and didn't know anyone apart from my husband his friends and family, I found it really lonely and still do.
I'd absolutely love to organise a group to help new members of the community meet people and make friends, nothing too serious just a casual thing with refreshments and biscuits

Every year our whole village pitches in and we have a fun day. The kids have pony rides and show off their dance groups, the adults join in tug of war and sell off their unwanted goodies or home crafts on stalls. There is tea and cakes and an opportunity to meet the people who run the local groups and clubs. If you are new to the village it's a great place to come and meet everyone.

Our local community already does quite a bit that brings everyone together. We do street parties, bbq's, fete's, discos and kids / adults activity groups. Plus if someone in the community needs some money raised, like recently a child needed a specialist bike made because they were disabled. We arrange an event like a quiz or cake sale. We also do litter picking and if any of the local teenagers help on several of these events they get a free trip in the summer to legoland. We do seed collecting for the local nature area too.

I love living somewhere that has a nice community feel to it. I think it is important for communities to have a centre where people organise things such as coffee mornings and charity events. These are great ways of meeting people and for bringing communities together.

The local school does a good job when they hold events like the Summer Fayre, there were a lot of people at the last one and it got loads of the kids involved.

i would hire a hall , hire a dj then invite as many people as possible

I think a communal project to redevelop some old buildings/land. We could put in a skate park, and swing/slides etc for the children to use.
The buildings could be used for meetings/classes etc, and a cafe would help to bind it all together.

Nowadays, there are a lot of people who struggle with depression, anxiety and stress. I think doing something in the community to combat this would be a great benefit to those who suffer. I would organise a free daily outdoor workout as exercise helps with depression, anxiety and stress. Not only would it be a benefit to those people but people in the community who don't suffer but would like to give their support or would just like to benefit from free, local exercise.

I think a street party would be great. We live in a quiet cul-de-sac which would be ideal and we could get everyone involved young and old preparing a great community street party

In my local area, there is the MS therapy centre, which brings disabled visitors together and helps them in a variety of ways.

I would love to set up a www.cyclingwithoutage.org group, getting people of all ages and abilities together. Being active and getting out in the fresh air. Offering an environmentally friendly mode of transport too.
It's like a rickshaw bike that can take two passengers, elderly, people with a disability anyone who would benefit from the experience.

just decided to email my council about a derelict building on our local rec as it woukd make a greatvone oclock club for mums and toddlers

I'm part of a recently established community group and we fundraise to cover things that have been hit by our local council cutbacks. We've started with replacing our village's Christmas lights and we hope to branch out into providing summer hanging baskets and other projects to keep a sense of pride in our community by making it a pleasant place to be. Sure, it's frivolous, but the community seems to love it. We have coffee mornings and parties to raise funds and celebrate and it's lovely to see so many people coming together.

Our local area doesnt really have much for young children or teenagers, I would love to have a nice area where there could be a skate park for the older kids and a little play area for the younger ones. Maybe even incorporate an allotment area for adults too so everyone would benefit

there is quite a few elderly on our crescent and i would love to set up a grocery run for them where i could go to the shop every few days and get anything they need esp in bad weather

Start small and organise a bbq for your neighbours

I would love to set up a community shop in my village as we have no local amenities, so rarely meet any neighbours.

My community is already pretty connected. We have regular events in the local park and lots of the locals go to it. It's great :)

I live in a built up city where the population density is high, however, its a very friendly and open environment in my particular neighbourhood. We have local church fun days, our school holds fetes, quiz nights and does gardening events where locals are encouraged to come in and help the children plant vegetables, herbs and flowers in preparation for the 'city in bloom' competition which they usually win. We also have a nice park nearby, with a farm part, a good splash park which is great for getting together with others on a hot day, and we have 2 pubs within 5 minutes walk which have pub gardens with bbq menus most weekends and a bouncy castle for the kids to play on.

I love to bake and would have a big baking session in the name of fun and have someone judge the best designs.

our village has a community help yourself garden and plot where you can get involved and grow fruit, vegetables and plants. It is open to all and villagers can help themselves. It is a good way for the community to come together if they wish and is great for those who have no garden. There is always a variety of seasonal produce.