Throughout the year, the creation of Jubilee Square in New Malden has seen many community events being established, sparking unity and sense of belonging.
After the closure of many shops on the high street, including a department store and four banks, and concerns for the physical and mental wellbeing of New Malden residents, the council and GLA (Greater London Authority) provided funding to establish the New Malden Town Centre Partnership to revitalise the area.
A recent event on Jubilee Square occurred on Friday 24th November, when the residents of New Malden gathered in the square and along the high street, as they waited eagerly for the Christmas lights to switch on. The evening saw a variety of festivities: from musical performances to food stalls from different ethnic groups, and even Santa giving young kids gifts! Other recent events this year included Remembrance Sunday and the King’s Coronation party.
The community connector of New Malden Town Centre Partnership described some of the positive impacts such events have had on the community: ‘We have all learned about different cultures to our own and gained pleasure from experiencing the rich diversity of our town. The events have also acted as a springboard for other activities such as new art projects, a cinema event, horticulture swap shops and the establishment of a community vegetable garden.’
Aside from the events on Jubilee Square, another community project in New Malden includes the Cromwell Residential and Open Space Society. On Sunday 26th November, they held their monthly clean up of the residential area, including nearby roads and the park. Whilst ensuring tidiness within the area, the community was brought together with opportunities to befriend new and old neighbours, with the added bonus of spending time in nature.
While these events demonstrate the huge efforts to unite New Malden, can the same be said for the rest of the UK? Is the idea of a ‘community’ becoming extinct?
Some may argue that feelings of unity within a community is relative to the size of it; as the size of a community increases, integration with one another may decrease. A smaller, perhaps rural area possibly illustrates a more tight - knit group where there are strong feelings of closeness and trust between the members. On the other hand, a large community could make some people feel alienated where there are no efforts to draw the community together due to its sheer size. However, others may argue that size is not the sole factor that affects community cohesion.
Nevertheless, the significance of a close community was demonstrated during the Covid-19 pandemic where the consequences of society being unable to interact and communicate with one another was felt distinctly. During those difficult months, the undeniable truth was that in some way or another, every person was affected, exemplified by the inability to see friends, family or even a small interaction with a stranger on the street.
Although New Malden is a perfect example of how when efforts are tied together, community spirit overflows in a positive manner, it is a shame that such efforts are not taken across the country. Because ultimately, “alone, we can do so little; together, we can do so much.” - Helen Keller.
