Berkshire connected
Community
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NEIGHBOURHOOD: A STRATEGY FOR TODAY’S WELLBEING - By Dr Esther Oenga The world today is complex. The community too is complex. Challenges such as loneliness and isolation are drastically on the increase. Neighbourhood, a strategy for wellbeing was launched in February 2019 funded by People’s Trust. Since then meetings have been held at Hexham Community Centre, South Reading fortnightly. The focus has been on the four crucial themes that enhance WELLBEING: o o o o
Music which is a therapy Art which is a skill Drama which is an exercise Story telling which is a healing and a real experience
At the beginning of the project, the word neighbourhood sounded usual and was clear with the participants. It was just an ordinary and a 13 lettered word. They took it for granted and known by everyone for years. Little did they know that they were wrong. They had never stopped to ask themselves a simple and important question, who is my neighbour? It was discovered after a few sessions that neighbourhood was not just a word. It was WEALTH. Understanding neighbourhood in its true sense and applied would promote the community wellbeing. Further discussions shared revealed that taking neighbourhood seriously would be a solution to challenges such as loneliness and isolation in the community. Before long, the participants perception of neighbourhood totally changed. How? they embraced neighbourhood to be an important and empowering tool that promotes powerful GOOD NEIGHBOURHOOD. Neighbourhood was taken as an acronym and shared among participants. It was a joy and amazement to stop and reflect what it meant at the end of the exercise. It has been used in the community in addressing loneliness and isolation. Below are various meanings of each letter of the word NEIGHBOURHOOD. N: Networks are important and crucial. Network with neighbours Nurture new friendships Nice neighbours are needed Never ignore neighbours E:
Engage with neighbours, be part of the programs in the neighbourhood/entertain Environments needs to be looked after, every neighbour has a responsibility Every neighbour is important Empower each other and emulate
I:
Inquire about your neighbour’s wellbeing Integrate with your neighbours Identify them individually by name, invest and show interest in them Involve and inspire your neighbours
G:
Generations of neighbours Good neighbours, be one and be generous Gifts such as simple birthday cards need to be shared Grateful for your neighbours
H: Happy neighbours Hello and how are you goes a long way Helping hand in the neighbourhood is essential without expecting back. Humility and to be humble to neighbours are important B:
Build relationships, no man is an island Be real and friendly in all your undertakings Boundary keeping is necessary Be nice and you will attract more neighbours
O: Open minded person makes integration possible Ongoing support to neighbours is a gift and necessary Overcome barriers to good neighbourhood Optimistic is positive mind that leads to be organised U:
Unity with neighbours is essential Useful neighbours are necessary Understanding neighbours is important Utilise opportunities with neighbours
R:
Rational neighbours & remember to wish them well Respect your neighbours at all times Reliable neighbours are real investment treasure them Resourceful neighbours go along way
H:
Honest neighbour Happy neighbour promotes happiness Humility is key to good neighbourhood Harmless neighbour
O:
Outgoing and outstanding neighbour Opportunities in the area Oneness with neighbours Ordinary and not complex in behaviour
O: Optimistic always positive Out and about neighbour Online knowledge Originality
