Holding neighbourhoods together
This post was first published on our sister blog, At the grassroots. I’m re-posting it here because it’s about building for radical change from the base, with a particular emphasis on doing what can be done to create a sense of solidarity and togetherness in a neighbourhood. That’s a difficult ask at any time, given how late stage capitalism/corporatism has already led to an increasingly atomised society. That’s before the divide and rule merchants - a.k.a. the useful idiots acting on behalf of the elites - got to work, pitting us against each other. This year, particularly in the last month or so, the useful idiots have been really busy. The phrase ‘useful idiots’ includes those undertaking intellectual grandstanding to make a point, regardless of how the adverse impact of what they’re saying plays out on the streets. There’s a lot of work to do to counter the malign influence of the divide and rule merchants...
Regular readers of this blog will be aware that we’re passionate about building for change from the grassroots upwards. They will also be aware of the stress we place on the importance of creating a genuine sense of community and solidarity in our neighbourhoods, one that will enable us to build a platform for change. Alongside of this, they will be aware of the contempt we have for the divide and rule merchants who seek to sow the seeds of division in our communities so that we end up at each others throats. This was something we wrote about at length in this piece:
Building neighbourhood solidarity and resilience 23.10.24
We support community projects that bring people together, regardless of their backgrounds. At the end of the day, whoever we are and wherever we're from, we all want to live in a neighbourhood where people look out for and care for each other. A neighbourhood that in an age of failing public services can provide networks of support for its more vulnerable members. A neighbourhood that's making steps to take control of its food supply with community gardens/allotments, community food kitchens, food buying groups and the like. A neighbourhood that once it gains a degree of self confidence about looking after itself, will start to ask some searching questions about power, who exercises it and how it has to be brought right down to the grassroots.
You don’t need us to tell you that we live in troubled times. Here in the UK, austerity is eating away at vital community services. This provides all too fertile ground for the divide and rule merchants to spread their poison, pitting us against each other, giving those who presume to rule over us the excuse to impose stricter controls over us, just to keep the lid on a volatile situation. This is why we support neighbourhood level community groups who in the face of all of this, are doing their level best to fill the gaps left by austerity while trying to generate a sense of solidarity and belonging. A number of these groups are featured below and also, on this page: The Directory.
Community groups & resources
BATH
Grow for Life - Transforming lives through gardening
BRISTOL - NORTH
BRISTOL - SOUTH
Inns Court Community & Family Centre
TRESA (Totterdown residents) - X
KEYNSHAM
Keynsham Community Hub - Facebook
Needless to say, The Directory is very much a work in progress. The list above is a heck of a long way from being anything that could be described as comprehensive. So, if you’re involved in a neighbourhood level project anywhere in the Avon region and would like to have a listing in The Directory, please feel free to get in touch, let us know what you do, and we’ll get an entry in. Alternatively, if you know of a community project that’s not listed but you feel should be, again, feel free to get in touch. Any help in building The Directory to make it a comprehensive resource for anyone living in the Avon region will be gratefully accepted.
I regret to say I recently got hauled over the coals by 2 left wing activist friends for using the phrase 'together we stand, divided we fall' on the grounds the far right had adopted it, and it couldn't be used now as 'it could be misinterpreted by ordinary people'. Sometimes I get irritated with my friends......