Reinventing Community Hubs

Is it inevitable that unsuspecting sheep will always flock to wool-draped wolves?

In recent decades, there has been a notable upsurge of support for ‘populist’ leaders across the world. Their mix of vicious rhetoric, illiberal policies, and plutocratic devotion masked as the championing of freedom, attract votes from people whose quality of life is only made worse by ‘populist’ actions such as reckless tax cuts; devastation of public services; termination of vital trade relations; fuelling of environmental damages; diversion of resources to target scapegoats; and depleting protection for the vulnerable.

One oft-cited explanation of this phenomenon is that in times of social and economic uncertainty, more people will look for leaders who exude authority and give them a sense that they have a place in a ‘system’ where they will be respected. The ‘system’ tends to be a projected culture wherein people are urged to blame designated scapegoats for all ills, feel proud of their own ‘righteousness’, and condemn calls for social, economic, or environmental improvements as ‘nasty’, ‘woke’, ‘establishment’, ‘socialist’ (or any term that’s handy).

However, while there is a small minority who may be susceptible to the lure of hate and faux superiority, most people are not likely to be taken in by some mythical ‘good old days’ culture (where everyone knows their ‘place’) – unless they are left cut off by growing uncertainties, and feel that nobody gives a damn about their predicament.

This is the critical point where either ‘populist’ charlatans get to greet them with their grand deception, or others step in to offer them real hope and understanding.

The second option is where we need a new form of community hub that can give people a positive sense of connection and better awareness of what should be done for their common wellbeing. This type of community hub will have four key features:

[1] Services to meet needs

They will meet local needs with affordable goods in a manner akin to the cooperative services set up by the Rochdale Pioneers. Any surplus will be passed back to the community in the form of user dividends and support for free services such as the provision of advice on a wide range of personal and financial issues; food (including communal growing and cooking support) and other basics for those short of money; leisure activities designed and led by local people; and time banking to facilitate the giving and receiving of help for each other in the community. 

[2] Community development to exert influence 

They will act as a focal point for the exploration and development of community action. Ongoing engagement with those who visit the hub for its services, and outreach work to involve those who do not, are to provide a basis for pressing public and private sector bodies to respond to the concerns of the community. Consensus-building and conflict-resolution techniques will be applied to deal with classic ‘divide and ignore’ attempts by external agencies. Support is to be available for the development of community-based schemes for energy, credit, housing, etc.

[3] Social events to build relationships 

They will organise events to bring people together and enrich their mutual understanding. Just as intergenerational activities will be designed to help people of different ages to appreciate each other better, cultural and other types of events will also be arranged to inclusively enable different groups and individuals to discover more about what they have not been previously familiar with. People with contrasting identities – whatever these may be – can bond over food, music, personal history, and conversation; and set up interest groups (drama, gardening, art, etc.) that welcome all identities.

[4] Learning to enhance understanding

They will serve as a centre for lifelong learning, with a particular emphasis on current affairs and public policies. Sessions will include both input from experts and examination by deliberative group discussions. Key topics to address will cover: assessing the reliability of images and reports; differentiating sources of information based on their credentials and track record; unpacking lies, misrepresentation and empty promises in political rhetoric; reconciling conflicting views in a civil manner; understanding what is offensive and threatening as opposed to what is contrived as ‘unacceptable’.

The cooperative movement – with its experience in service provision for communities, engagement with local people, support for socially constructive activities, involvement in education, and commitment to shaping democratic political change – is well placed to develop this new kind of Civic Community Hubs. To give people real hope and understanding so they turn away from scoundrels and false prophets, and join with others who genuinely care about building a better future together, let the development of these hubs commence.