We’re living in divisive times – but West Midlands residents say their sense of community spirit is alive and well and helping rebuild fractured neighbourhoods. The city features in a new Community Spirit Index, with 54% of people saying they know and trust their neighbours.

The report, released to launch Community Business Weekend (16-19 May), highlights cities where neighbourhood working is strongest and reveals that despite a polarised political landscape, at a local level the majority of us know and trust the people in our community.

In the West Midlands, community run-events and businesses are driving positive change and providing vital support. Almost one in three (28%) of respondents said working with others on local events is an important way to bring people together, while another 42% recognise events in the city that have helped to create a sense of unity.

A further 38% think their community is good at pulling together in times of need.

And that sense of community spirit is growing. According to the Index, 37% of people in the West Midlands want to learn more about how to help their community, 26% want to become involved in a community business and 55% are keen to support community business owners and leaders.

A well as volunteering, consumers are using positive spending to support their neighbourhoods. With the Community Spirit Index revealing that 53% of people prefer to shop in a business whose profits are invested in the community if they can.

In the West Midlands, community businesses include Ideal For All, a community gardening and local food initiative which supports and empowers local disabled, vulnerable or socially isolated people to improve their employment skills, health and wellbeing.

Ideal For All has recently expanded its community gardens with the help of a £215,000 grant from Power to Change. Staff and volunteers are keen to find new ways to help people learn about, cultivate and eat well using good quality food, grown locally.

Next week Power to Change launches its annual Community Business Weekend (16 to 19 May inclusive). The annual open doors event will see community businesses across England showcasing their work and inviting people to take a closer look at what they do and how they might get involved.

To mark this year’s Community Business Weekend, Ideal For All is celebrating the re-launch of its ‘Bag your Share’ local food scheme now including their Barlow Road Community Garden in Wednesbury.

They’ll invite people to come along and taste their local goods, see where they are grown and find out how the ‘Bag Your Share’ scheme supports the not-for-profit charity’s work.

Speaking about the Community Spirit Index and the Community Business Weekend, Power to Change Chief Executive, Vidhya Alakeson says:

“At this time of huge uncertainty it’s fantastic to hear that community spirit is still alive and well. People are more determined than ever to pull together for the common good.  We know from our work on the ground how important that connection is for a successful community business, and how much those businesses improve the lives of communities.

“Community Business Weekend is a great opportunity for people to reconnect with their local community and to learn more about the amazing work of the 8,000 community businesses across the country that are working to transform their local area.”

Find out what’s happening all over the country for Community Business Weekend 16-19 May on www.communitybusinessweekend.org