Official logos of the 'Home Office' and publisher 'TSO' (The Stationery Office)
Official logos of the 'Home Office' and publisher 'TSO' (The Stationery Office)

Your community

In this section:

Regardless of where you choose to live in the UK you’ll be part of a community. You will be surrounded by other people and need to understand how you’re expected to behave in order to benefit from that environment.

 

The United Kingdom’s values

An important part of making your move a success will be understanding the society you’ll be living in. It’s easy to make mistakes or misunderstand why people are behaving a certain way, and we know you’ll be keen not to offend anyone in your new home.

The UK is a democracy based on the rule of law. We value individual liberty, but there is no place for extremism or intolerance.

While you live here you’ll enjoy freedom of speech. You’ll also have freedom of belief and religion. Our laws protect you from unfair discrimination and also ensure that everyone receives a fair trial. If you’re eligible to vote, you’ll have the right to join in any election.

We also expect you to play your part in society. You need to respect and obey the law and treat others with fairness. That includes tolerating those with different faiths and beliefs, and respecting the rights of others, including their right to their own opinions. We expect you to look after yourself, your family, the area you live in and the environment. And we’d encourage you to participate in community life.

 

Get to know your neighbours

The people who live near you can help you to settle into a new community so it’s important to introduce yourself to them. They probably have lots of information about how things work and where you can find local services.

You may be able to help them – for example, by putting out their wheelie bins if they’re away or feeding their cat or dog if necessary. If you do things like this, your neighbours are likely to help you when you need support.

Avoid disagreements if you can. People get upset when neighbours make too much noise, particularly late at night, or if gardens aren’t kept tidy.

 

Community centres

Many local community centres provide advice and support to newly arrived immigrants and can be an excellent source of information. Some may offer educational opportunities as well as encouraging participation in community life.

 

Libraries

Most towns and cities – and some larger villages – have a library. Libraries usually allow you to borrow books, free of charge, for an agreed period before you have to take them back. Some also offer CDs and DVDs, as well as internet access. You can also find out about more about what’s going on in your local area and get useful information about how to access local services.

 

Activities in your local community

Most communities have a variety of organisations you might join depending on your interests. These include sports clubs, amateur dramatics, art clubs, parent and toddler groups, orchestras, and choirs. They are all usually run by enthusiasts in your community. Joining one is an excellent way of getting to know people where you live.

Many local council websites have lists of organisations and events that are taking place. They can also help if you want to take up a new interest, such as learning to swim.

 

Joining in

Wherever you live, there are organisations that can use your help. You may have the skill to do something that is very useful to local organisations – whether it’s cooking food for community events or dealing with their administrative needs. By joining in, you’re showing people that you hold the same values as theirs. Your contribution will help to make your community a better place.

 

Volunteering

Volunteering means working for good causes without payment. Not only does this help the good cause; it also helps the volunteer. Many people offer their services because they enjoy helping others, but there’s also a practical side to volunteering. It helps you to meet people in your community, learn new skills, develop ones which may help you get a job, and improve your English.

 

In schools

Schools often welcome volunteers who support their activities. Whether you have children or not, your skills and expertise can be put to good use. Listening to children read means they get more individual attention and time to practise. You might talk to groups about your experiences in other parts of the world or just offer help with general activities regularly.

There are often fundraising activities to buy extra equipment for the school. Most schools have parent/teacher associations which organise events. Offers of help with the administration are always welcome and will help you to get to know your local community.

Being a school governor is a more formal way of helping in school. It involves playing a key part in the development of the school. You would be responsible, with others, for setting the strategic direction of the school, ensuring accountability, and monitoring and evaluating school performance.

Depending on your role, you may need to be checked by the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) to make sure you have no record that would exclude you from such activities.

 

Blood and organ donation

Hospitals in the UK need blood to help people survive operations and illnesses. It is freely donated by members of the public. The donor service sets up events in the local area for people to give blood. A blood donation doesn’t take very long and helps people in serious need.

There are many people in need of an organ transplant. Organ donation is a very difficult decision for your relatives to make if you die suddenly; you can make it much easier for them if you’re already registered as a donor.

 

Looking after the environment

There is much concern about damage to the environment, so it’s important to do what we can to prevent the situation getting worse. In most parts of the UK there are refuse collections to help reduce and recycle waste. Card, plastic bottles and glass are mostly recyclable. You will be provided with bins and boxes which will be collected regularly.

You can also take all sorts of things (such as batteries, old furniture, garden waste) to your local recycling centre where they will be dealt with in the best way possible.

You can also help by shopping and buying products that are produced locally to reduce your ‘carbon footprint’. Walking, cycling and using public transport also help because they produce less pollution than using a car.

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