Our living room was full with neighbours all Saturday afternoon so I think I little Advent party was a success. Although there are still plenty of people round here who we haven’t even met we did manage to bring together everyone from long-term residents, who moved in when the estate was built, to a couple who only arrived here in October (co-incidently after academic work at my alma mater, the University of York).

It is a model that could definitely be repeated next year and we might think about other opportunities (and listen out for neighbours who feel inspired to try something similar). It would be good to play a part in building a community where we know who lives beyond each door and have found connections that help us to trust each other.