Neath Port Talbot named the most community driven location in the UK as over 50% want to make a difference in their neighbourhoods

Over the last couple of years we’ve all understood how being a part of a community can help us, from picking up something for our neighbours to chatting more over the fence, the people we live around are the ones we share the ups and downs with and research revealed today has shown this is true now more than ever.  

The report by community-based retailer SPAR UK drilled down to find the key elements that make a great neighbourhood in Wales. Locals wanted to look for good neighbours (35%) feel a sense of belonging (25%) and free green spaces (8%). All key elements that helped us through Covid-19 restrictions. 

The stats went on to show that a huge 68% of people would describe themselves as happy living in their community, the highest in the UK, with 45% of those from Wales adding that their community gave them a sense of belonging. Nurturing a neighbourhood and making a positive difference was something that a huge 57% said was important to them, going on to say it was good to make others feel like they matter. 

An impressive 28% also said they were involved in activities for local causes with charity of coffee mornings (51%) coming at as the top activity of people saying they attend, followed jumble sales with 44%  and community fun runs or walks (29%). When asked about improving the community environment a huge 50% are involved litter pick-ups and 56% are also helping to renovate and improve local facilities, the highest in the UK.

And it seems the joy of being involved in our neighbourhoods has grown in 2022, as the research found that 41% of people in Wales have helped each other a lot more and 36% also added that they felt they had got to know people in their neighbourhood more, including people working in local shops.

SPAR UK, who has over 2,600 stores across the country, commissioned the poll of 3,000 UK adults and also revealed the most community driven locations in the country, including: 

1. Neath Port Talbot
2. Norwich
3. Dunfermline
4. Swansea
5. Barnsley
6. Hackney
7. Derry/8Londonderry
8. Plymouth
9. Chelmsford
10. Preston

It seems we are a nation of bargain hunters as jumble sales and boot sales came out top as the most popular activity across Wales (28%), but the community get together we all love the most is a local pub quiz, with 65% saying they attend. 

Sports is also a key community event for those in Wales, with 64% taking part in walking, 41% joining classes run by the community and 38% running. A quarter (25%) of people also attended swimming groups! 

John Drury, a social psychologist specialising in the study of collective behaviour at the University of Sussex commented: “These important findings underline the role that local community plays in people’s lives find a strong association between the number of groups that people were involved in and their increased happiness in living more locally.”

“It’s no coincidence that the activities that were found to drive happiness most – local get- togethers, pub quizzes and dog walking – are all activities that allow people to extend their social circle and form new friendships. It’s also worth noting that some of the most popular activities locally — litter picking and community gardening – serve to improve the community environment. They produce a virtuous circle of happiness in the local community.”

“It’s clear that people have discovered, or rediscovered, their local community through the pandemic. Like others, I got to know people in my local shops and cafes through working from home, and realised what a great community I live in.”

SPAR stores are at the heart of the communities they serve, and to give shoppers across the UK the chance to make their community better, SPAR are offering grants to help fund programmes, social clubs and charities that give back to the community. The £100k Community Cashback scheme is giving grants to local voluntary or community organisations and charities who need it most. Successful organisations include Bags Full Of Love, an organisation based in West Dunbartonshire that aims to give every child entering foster care a new backpack filled with new comfort and personal care items, and Northumbria Blood Bikes, a charity run by local volunteers who deliver life saving blood platelets and plasma to hospitals across the region. 

Suzanne Dover, SPAR UK Brand and Marketing Director, added “Our SPAR stores around the UK believe in nurturing their neighbourhoods and supporting the communities they serve, and we are delighted to be able to supplement their local efforts with this national campaign. This report shows exactly what makes a community and how important things like links with local shops are to help build this connection.  Times are tough for charity and support groups who are looking to fundraise at the moment, and it is great that the £100k Community Cashback scheme can provide deserving local organisations with some extra financial help at this time.”

Find out more at https://www.spar.co.uk/