Hulme Life – Define Community

In biological terms, a community is a group of interacting organisms sharing a populated environment. In human communities, intent, belief, resources, preferences, needs, risks, and a number of other conditions may be present and common, affecting the identity of the participants and their degree of togetherness.

In sociology, the concept of community has led to significant debate, and sociologists are yet to reach agreement on a definition of the term. There were ninety-four discrete definitions of the term by the mid-1950s.Traditionally a "community" has been defined as a group of interacting people living in a common location. The word is often used to refer to a group that is organized around common values and is attributed with social togetherness within a shared geographical location, generally in social units larger than a household. The word can also refer to the national community or global community.

The word "community" is derived from the Old French communité which is derived from the Latin communitas, a broad term for fellowship or organized society.

Since the advent of the Internet, the concept of community no longer has geographical limitations, as people can now virtually gather in an online community and share common interests regardless of physical location.

The value of community - strength in numbers

We've all heard the phrase "strength in numbers", but what does that actually mean? Well, in short, it means that people with a common problem need to band together, if they want to achieve a change. family and friends can give you support in various situations. For example, if you need good advice, it can be helpful to have family and friends in the audience to back yourself up.

You could also look at it from the point of view of a family unit. If one child wants a xbox for example, it's easier to say no to them than if all of your children join together and start pressuring you for an xbox. So, the children can have power, when they act as a unit.

From an addiction standpoint, strength in numbers means finding others who share your fight. For example, if you're an alcoholic, it can seem impossible to quit. Yet, if you attend meetings, you might quit. That's because there's strength in surrounding yourself with those who know exactly how you feel.

Those are just some of the many ways that people can gain strength from those around them. So, if you're faced with a problem, don't go it alone. Surround yourself with like-minded people who all want to see you achieve your goal or achieve that same goal themselves. That's the key to success, whether you want to get an xbox, give a public speech or kick a habit.

Sense of belonging

Welcome! In a culture that values independence, we sometimes forget that our survival and ability to thrive depend on interrelationships. In your mother’s womb, you floated in the warm embrace of amniotic fluid and received a steady stream of nutrients through the umbilical cord. Perhaps you heard your mother sing lullabies to you then, so her voice became familiar before you were even born.

Sadly enough, even in the womb you may have felt let down. A surprising number of people trace their earliest trauma to the anxiety their mother felt while bearing them or to toxins she ingested that diminished their well-being. So we not only depend on each other from the start, but we need also to treat our interdependence as the sacred gift it is. Whether we have been marvelously supported or terribly mistreated in the past (most of us experience a mix of each), we can now choose to live gratefully so that our sense of belonging grows ever stronger.

Economic benefits of the community

Currently when we source tradesman, raw materials and all other kinds of produce we shop for the best product at the best price. Quite often a similar product at an equally attractive price will be available right on our doorsteps in the local community. We are unaware of these products and providers as we are not familiar with our local economy and commerce. By rebuilding the community local tradesman and retailers would find local people would become their main client source, thus generating local capital for local community inhabitants.

Main picture from: Lynn Setterington Textile Artist

Hulme Life Manchester