Event Ideas

Social events are the building blocks of your community. Until people get to know each other, they are unlikely to ask for favours, or offer them. We've listed a few ideas below to get you started, but feel free to come up with your own.

Whatever you're organising, post it as an event on the website. That way all of your neighbours will hear about it in their notifications email within three days time.

Picnic or barbeque: the simplest idea of all – just find a spot, make a time and ask your neighbours to bring food and drinks.

Swaps: everyone has stuff that does nothing but gather dust. A swap, or a 'really really free market' lets you clear out the house and pick up others' discarded treasure. You can make the event simple (people bring their goods and anyone can take them away) or more formal (for example – bring six goods, get six tokens to exchange for six things from other people). This can be a good event to run in a busy public place so passers-by can grab stuff too.

Movie night: get people together in your hood to watch films. It could be fun to have a theme – maybe sci-fi, musicals, or westerns? Try to choose films that will work for a wide range for people. Classics always fit the bill.

Sports day: if there's a park near by, why not get some exercise? Your hood could have a football, bocce, frisbee or croquet round-robin.

Super garage sale: combine forces for a giant garage sale that can't fail to attract the hordes.

Progressive dinner: move from house to house for entré, dinner and desert. Or just your average pot-luck dinner where everybody brings a dish to share.

Kids' party: young families are often very interested in getting to know their neighbours. Organise to meet at the local park or playground and let the little tyros loose.

Christmas party: everyone expects to celebrate during the festive season, so it's the perfect chance to invite your neighbours to a BBQ or picnic.

Street party: Local councils often give small grants to organise street parties. You could organise live music, stalls, games, whatever you like.