In this article we share our Top-4 free-to-use ways for you connect and stay connected to your neighbours and local communities.
1. InYourArea
Easy to navigate, all you need to do is head to the website, www.inyourarea.co.uk and add your postcode to the text box on the home page. You’ll then be asked for other local areas you would like to see information on, giving you options to add several other areas including neighbouring villages so you can see a broader picture.
Once you have input your postcode and selected any neighbouring areas, the platform will then serve you tailored local news and information relevant for the areas you have selected. This includes:
Public notices like planning activities.
Planned roadworks and reported issues like potholes.
Crime statistics.
Properties advertised for sale by local estate agents.
Local news published by established journalists.
Local job vacancies.
Items for sale via the InYourArea marketplace.
2. WhatsApp
WhatsApp is an encrypted messaging application owned by META, the company behind Facebook and Instagram. It’s an incredibly popular channel with over half of the UK population using the app to date.
WhatsApp Groups are a great choice for small groups of neighbours looking to stay in touch with each other. From sending a quick message to check in on any changes to bin collection days, to asking to borrow some hedge cutters to tackle an unruly hedgerow; it’s a great way to keep in touch with your closest neighbours.
WhatsApp can become unwieldy if too many people are in the group; notifications can quickly seem never ending, making it difficult to keep up with messages. If you are part of a WhatsApp Group that has already become too popular, you could consider switching to a Facebook Group instead (see tip 4 on how this works).
3. Nextdoor
A community / social media platform, Nextdoor originally started out in the United States but has steadily grown in popularity in the UK with one in four households using the app.
Nextdoor is all about connecting neighbours and allowing them to share real-time information with each other. This means you get access to news and information from the local community. From posts asking for DIY advice, information on local businesses and even a section where you can buy and sell second-hand goods.
Nextdoor is very intuitive to use, however it does require you to set up a profile and as with any social media space, be sure to check your account and privacy settings as soon you set up a profile to ensure you are only sharing information with the app and neighbours that you want to share.
4. Facebook Groups
Did you know that over 34.4 million people in the UK used Facebook or Instagram in 2023? Facebook and its sibling social media site, Instagram, continue to be the social media platforms of choice for many Brits and, even through their challenges, offer users the opportunity to stay connected and indeed to reconnect with family and friends online.
Facebook Groups remain a popular choice for anyone looking to build a community around like-minded interests. There are Facebook Groups for all manner of sports, hobbies, political and religious interests as well as local communities.
In the first instance, why not search Facebook to see if a group already exists for your local community or development? If there is a group, ask the group administrators to allow you access to it. This means you’ll then see all posts that appear by other group users.
If a group doesn’t already exist, why not set one up and invite existing Facebook contacts within your community to join the group. It will grow from there as those contacts invite their contacts, etc. etc.
If you are the admin of a Facebook group, make sure you have very clear rules on how group members should engage with each other. Rules that ensure users treat each other with politeness and respect are important and you should make it clear that any user who does not abide by the rules will be banned.
Are these digital technologies the future?
Are these digital technologies the future?
While digital technology is undoubtedly offering us more ways to stay connected with our local communities it cannot replace face-to-face contact with our neighbours. We only need to think back to 2020 and the various lockdowns used to stop the spread of Covid-19 to know this.
So, while apps like Nextdoor and WhatsApp are great, do still get out to and get involved with your local community. Whether it’s joining a local book club, supporting seasonal events like summer fetes or Christmas light switch on events, these are great for building relationships with your neighbours and local community as a whole.
