With #NationalDoSomethingGoodForYourNeighbourDay approaching, the circumstances that we are currently experiencing make this day extra special.
Neighbours for the first time since possibly the second World War actually need your help, and we mean really need your help. With not only the population at risk from COVID-19 and it’s deadly symptoms, but the social fabric which holds our society together.
Displaying acts of kindness to your neighbours on #NationalDoSomethingGoodForYourNeighbourDay happening annually (and usually not generating a whole lot of buzz) has a whole new meaning and purpose behind it - because this year, your neighbour may actually need your help, whether you know it or not.
Social Fabric - What Is It?
The fabric of a society is what holds it together. It’s a result of coming from the same place, small interactions, helping each other out and generally socialising is considered “social fabric”.
Covid-19 forcing the government to implement social distancing has this under attack, we’re less trusting of people, keeping our distance and social interactions happen a lot less frequently.
How can we help our neighbour, and rebuild our social fabric?
We can all do our bit to slow down and hopefully completely stop the spread of COVID-19 by staying home, as everyone’s (hopefully) currently doing so and adhering to the NHS and government guidelines. But how do we protect the future of our social fabric? This is where #NationalDoSomethingGoodForYourNeighbourDay comes into practise.
5 Ways to Rebuild Our Social Fabric During National Do Something Good For Your Neighbour Day.
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Picking up groceries/medicine if it’s safe for your elderly neighbour.
With online shopping delivery times for normal shopping becoming more and more scarce, some elderly/isolating people are facing a tough decision. They either go out - and risk the consequences, which could (without being overly dramatic) be fatal for themselves or other people, or to do without.
Being in this situation for someone with friends or relatives which have time to help can be a life saver. But with many elderly people experiencing loneliness, to the point of amazing charities being set up to combat it, not all elderly and vulnerable people have friends or family nearby that they can rely on.
That’s where you can make a massive difference to someone’s life. Some of these people suffer from anxiety or simply don’t know where to turn, offering a helping hand (whilst adhering to the social distancing guidelines) can make a massive difference to someone’s world.
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Put a drawing and/or a message in your window
Asking people if they’re ok or require assistance whilst adhering to social distancing guidelines can be difficult. However, some streets have found that putting a message in their window explaining that you’re available to help has made a big difference. Just having the peace of mind that someone is available to help you if something bad happens is sometimes enough just to reduce someone’s anxiety and make a big difference.
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Volunteering for the NHS
It is highly likely that the NHS will be under a tremendous amount of strain once the virus hits its peak, and so volunteering for the NHS is possibly one of the most helpful things you can do for those who live around you. If you have a full time job - this will be difficult but if you’re currently unemployed or furloughed this is an amazing opportunity to give back to the government and the wider community (and help to fight off the inevitable boredom you’ll be enduring). Sign up here (at the time of writing, volunteering applications are closed, however it’ll likely open again shortly, and there’s many other charities which will need your help in the meantime!).
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Talk, smile, interact!
Social distancing and the government guidelines state that you should keep 2 meters away, however this doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t smile, talk and interact! We don’t need to be scared of the people across the road from us, you’re right to be wary of keeping your distance and to adhere to the social distancing guidelines, however a simple hello can brighten someone’s day and help protect the social fabric.
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Adhere to the guidelines, and respect others.
Regardless of your own beliefs, or how vulnerable you are if you caught the disease, respect others and adhere to the guidelines as much as possible. Keep your distance from people, and respect that they may want to keep extra distance and may not be as socially welcoming as usual. Don’t take it personal, they’re just under a lot of stress and not everyone deals with drastic change in the same way.
We’re in this together.
We don’t know the impact that a small helping hand can have on someone’s life.
So although we need to come together as a society through these hard times, let’s make an extra effort on May 16th, because you never know the impact that a small helping gesture can have on someone’s life.