Mental Health Awareness Week: This year, the theme is Community.
Mental Health Awareness Week. This year, the theme is Community - which is so important for our happiness.
“Alone, we can do so little; together, we can do so much.”
Being part of something bigger, doing things for others and building good relationships - these give us a sense of belonging and help us contribute to a happier and kinder world.
I've been thinking a lot about what "community" really means when we're talking about supportive places where people feel secure, valued, and connected. It's about creating strong, helpful communities where people trust each other and feel like they belong.
Building strong communities means helping people connect, feel included, and know that we care. When that happens, we can all learn and support each other in really powerful ways.
Interestingly, there's a psychological idea called the Pratfall Effect. It suggests that when you're clearly good at something, a small mistake can actually make people like you more. In the events world, we sometimes think we need to be perfect to be professional.
Some brands understand this and even highlight their imperfections. For example, a pint of Guinness takes a while to pour correctly. Instead of trying to hide this, they celebrate it with the saying, "Good things come to those who wait." This shows that being a little imperfect can actually build trust and connection within a community.
Our glorious, unpredictable humanity is exactly what sets us apart from AI. We don't need to cover up every flaw. We don't need to act like the mistake never happened. As event professionals, we are, human. And humans mess stuff up; we do things imperfectly.
Joining a community of event professionals gives you excellent opportunities to expand your network and meet new people. They are also safe platforms for sharing your successes and failures while learning from others in the industry. You can discuss the causes that are closest to your heart, whether that's accessibility, sustainability, diversity, or even technology, and develop stronger event ideas as a result.
💡 Here are five ways to connect with your community:
Volunteering is a wonderful way to make a difference. Find an opportunity that matches your values - if you’re passionate about nature, is there a park that has volunteers who help maintain it? You could find out about volunteering opportunities on the Volunteering Matters Website.
Get to know your neighbours. Start by smiling and saying ‘Hello’ next time you see them. If you’re nervous about striking up a conversation, you could drop a note through their letterbox, introducing yourself.
Share your skills with others. Skills swaps are a way of passing on your knowledge to others in your community while gaining new skills for yourself. Visit timebanking.org or the Creative Lives website allows you to search for creative community arts groups from across the UK.
Attend a class, workshop or talk that relates to your interests and where you live. The WEA runs lots of courses, or a local university may have expert talks that are open to the public.
Be a tourist in your own town. Is there a museum you’ve kept meaning to visit, or a nature reserve that would make a lovely walk? Be curious and explore where you live.
Think about a time at an event or in a group of people when you really felt like you belonged. What happened? What made you feel included and part of things?
Remember an event in your life that was really meaningful.
I'm trying to figure out the best ways to build strong communities for events, so I'd love to hear your stories and ideas!
