More of us than ever before are living alone. It’s time to Get To Know Our Neighbours.

Do you know your next door neighbour? Is there someone in your street you could call on in an emergency?

If there answer is no, you’re not alone. According to recent polling almost three quarters (73%) of people in the UK don’t know their neighbours.

And, according to the ONS, more of us are living alone than ever before – and it’s predicted in the next 20 years, the number will rise to around 11 million people living alone. If we want to tackle loneliness across the UK it’s vital we get to know the people that live nearby.

Knowing our neighbours is important

That’s not to say that everyone who lives alone is lonely of course. Many people who live alone have great friendships and social connections. But as we get older, it can become harder and harder to leave the house and make those connections.

In polling we ran with YouGov we found that 72% think it’s important to know your neighbors. And we agree. For people of all ages, having someone to rely on, who look out for you, can make a huge difference.

It can be small things like someone watering the plants or keeping a spare key. To much larger things – when something goes wrong in our lives the people in our community are often the first to lend a helping hand.

Boundaries are important

Nobody wants Ned Flanders for a next door diddly neighbour.

It’s important to remember that we all have expectations and boundaries, and they should be respected.

For some of us the idea of an overbearing neighbour is mildly terrifying, and people will want and need different levels of interaction with their community.

But we worry that this fear gets in the way of all the wonderful things there are to be gained from knowing your neighbours. Both on a practical level and and an emotional one.

Similarly, for many people, introducing yourself to neighbours can be a bit nerve wracking. A lot of people who are lonely will stop reaching out to form new relationships for fear that they will be rejected. That’s why we should all go out of our way to be warm and welcoming when we can.

Research shows that loss of a sense of community can put people at a higher risk of experiencing loneliness, and that we are happier and healthier if we know people around us and feel a sense of belonging in our community.

You can read our advice on how to Get To Know Your Neighbours at https://bemoreus.org.uk/get-to-know-y...