Community spirit - dead or alive?

Reporter: by SAMIR YESLI
Date published: 12 February 2010


Has community spirit disappeared from the U.K. forever?

Perhaps it still exists but to a lesser extent than it used to do? Or is it as strong as it used to be back in the 'Good Old Days'?

I think most people would subscribe to the fact that community spirit has certainly changed. My mum tells me that she can name all the people that lived in her terraced street when she was growing up, something that almost anyone would struggle to do nowadays!

My own personal view is that it most certainly has changed due to people being a lot more mobile than they used to be and less tied to an area.

The increase in car use, family breakdown and the changing nature of work has definitely had an impact on communities.

However, I believe that Oldham has more community spirit than most places in the country.

Having lived in London I would go along with the view that it is friendlier up north. London has a far more transient, disparate population than Oldham which affects how people relate to one another.

I wouldn't say that there are many areas of Oldham where you wouldn't still know a few people if you moved away and returned home after 10 years.

My own area of Bardsley hasn't altered that much since I was a young lad and I think one of Oldham's strengths is the fact that there are still community ties.

Even though Manchester is next door I think most Oldhamers would see themselves as being associated with the town rather than as Mancunians.

I recently interviewed some traders and shoppers at Royton market and it was obvious that there was a real friendly atmosphere and warmth between the stall holders and customers.

In fact something that I witnessed recently highlights the good spirit that still exists in Oldham.

I ventured out in the thick snow when I got chatting to a local resident. He was just on his way to take a loaf of bread for his housebound, disabled friend.

Now if that isn't community spirit then I don't know what is!