When did you last meet someone new in your neighbourhood? For many of us, the honest answer is "too long ago." Despite being more connected than ever online, we're increasingly isolated in our actual communities.
Local events are the antidote.
The Loneliness Epidemic
Loneliness has become a public health crisis. Studies show that social isolation is as harmful to health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day. And while we have thousands of online friends, many of us struggle to name five people nearby we could call in an emergency.
This isn't just sad – it's dangerous. Communities where people don't know their neighbours have higher crime rates, worse mental health outcomes, and less resilience in times of crisis.
The Power of Gathering
Local events create what sociologists call "third places" – spaces that aren't home or work where people can gather and connect. A weekly pub quiz. A monthly market. A summer festival. These regular gatherings build the social fabric of a community.
When you see the same faces regularly, acquaintances become friends. Strangers become neighbours. A collection of houses becomes a community.
Supporting Local Business
Events are also vital for local businesses. A food festival brings footfall to the high street. A live music night fills a pub on a quiet Tuesday. A community market gives new businesses a low-risk way to test their products.
The best local events create a virtuous circle: they bring people to an area, those people discover local businesses, and those businesses thrive and create more events.
Finding Local Events
One of the challenges is simply knowing what's on. Local events often rely on word of mouth, a poster in a window, or a Facebook post that gets lost in the algorithm.
That's one reason we built events into SHOCAL – to make it easy to discover what's happening locally. From gigs and comedy nights to markets and community gatherings, it's all in one place.
Creating Your Own
You don't need permission to bring people together. Some of the best community events started with someone simply deciding to organise something:
- A monthly book club at a local café
- A running group that meets in the park
- A street party for neighbours
- A skill-share evening at a community centre
Start small, be consistent, and watch community grow.
