Community

What is meant by Community? 

Community originally meant a group of people who shared the same values. Nowadays, a community is the specific area or place where a group of people who live and interact with one another, and often have a cultural and historical heritage. 

What areas are there in the local area that are 'Community Spaces'?

Community spaces are areas that have been designed for public use, where people can relax, meet up and socialise. These can be areas like parks, pubs, cafés, churches and libraries. Some examples of community areas in Baldock are in the slideshow below.

Why is it important to have space for members of the community?

It is important there are community areas because it gives the local people somewhere to relax, hold events and meet up with friends. Children and teenagers especially need community space so that they have plenty to do in their free time.; if there is a park or sports centre then there is the opportunity to play sports and start recreational clubs. Some areas, like fields or nature reserves, allow plants and wildlife to thrive, which make local areas look nicer and benefit the environment. 

What type of community campaigns have there been (e.g Parks, gardens, community centres, youth clubs, outdoor gym areas, sensory gardens) and what was the space like before?

In Baldock there are two ongoing campaigns; 

The first is to protect and develop Baldock Town Hall. Some local volunteers campaigned to set up a charity for these purposes, and used local media to promote their work, such as the local papers, Twitter and Facebook. They now have ownership of the town hall, and plan to continue with fundraising events so they can begin work on the town hall. 

Website: http://www.bthl.org.uk/ 

The second is a Facebook campaign run by a local teenage boy, called 'Baldock needs a skate park'. He is trying to gather a wide enough following to convince the council to build a small skate park, which is a popular idea among local teenagers. 

Website: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Baldock-needs-a-skatepark/136058153167281