Ange DoveSome of the strongest communities I've ever encountered were not built around convenience. They were built around purpose. People gathered because they cared about something. A local project. A charitable cause. A sports club.
Ange DoveMost people spend far more of their lives searching for belonging than they realise. We don't always call it that. Sometimes we describe it as friendship. Sometimes we call it community.
Ange DoveA few years ago, I realised I knew an extraordinary amount about people I hadn't spoken to in months. I knew where they had been on holiday. I knew what they had eaten for dinner.
Ange DoveFor many years, I assumed volunteering was primarily about helping other people. And of course it is. Communities benefit enormously from people who give their time, energy and skills.