SARAH MEDCRAF: 'Community is needed now more than ever before'
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I READ on LinkedIn this morning that ‘community’ seems to be on its way to be the word of the year.
Now, to make such a statement just a few weeks in to 2023 is quite a bold move.
However, if the past few years has taught us anything, it has taught us the power that lies in a community.
I could list dozens of examples from shopping for shielding neighbours, local businesses cutting public grass when local authorities budgets have been cut, successful events such as Seafest in Lossiemouth or wind farms putting vital money in to areas for groups to make a real difference to the communities that they operate in.
The word community has different meanings to different people and the more I think about it, it has different meanings to me.
The community in which I live, the community in which my child goes to school, the business community that I work with daily, the community of our region which comes together (usually at a time of crisis) are just the ones that immediately come to mind.
Then of course there is the online community, LinkedIn for one, where I saw the post about the word ‘community’.
I am sure that community has other meanings too, but there will always be a common interest or characteristic – be it location, hobby, business etc. that pulls us together.
Now more than ever we need to use this to our advantage, positively engage with our communities and make a difference to where we live.
There is a focus on building wealth within communities and this can only be achieved when we are engaged, willing to think outside the box and accept that things are ever-changing.
The High Street won’t be the same as it was in the early 2000s for example, and with local authorities feeling the strain, we all need to come together to work smarter on how we can make our communities, ones we are really proud of.
This should never make a divide though and I think this is a risk we need to be more mindful of. Emotions are high and people are tired.
Volunteers have been stretched like never before.
We believe that ‘Together We Grow’ and there is strength in numbers, and we need to collaborate where we can.
Let’s make the comment on LinkedIn a reality.
Let’s focus on our communities for 2023 and I know that great things will happen.
Sarah Medcraf is chief executive officer of Moray Chamber of Commerce.
