There are some really interesting themes emerging. In this blog I’m going to focus on place and community. On the whole, people speak very positively about their local communities. Sometimes they wish they could be more involved but often don’t have the time to do so, because of the demands of employment and looking after family.

Sense of belonging is strong in many of the places where we have done the research. People feel attached to the local area and say that community members are friendly. Many people talk about the benefits of being near the sea and living in a picturesque area. There are some downsides though – not enough local services in some places, people moving in and out of villages without investing in the local community, the pains of poor rural access to Broadband, and in urban areas like Redcar, a sense that more regeneration urgently needs to take place.

There are some really interesting local activities and community websites. Many people have told us that they like looking at community websites, in particular the photographs and information about local history. They would like to see more about their local communities on the internet – more information on events, transport and services. It is about sharing local knowledge and information; social networking and community connectivity; and showcasing local communities and their unique characters and activities.

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