Photos of Andrew and Elliot – both volunteers with Westside Community Association

Bringing the community living room outdoors in Buckskin

• 3 min read

Residents, community groups and local partners came together at The Ridgeway Community Centre in Buckskin on Thursday 23 July for a community pop-up event hosted by our community engagement team.

Working alongside Camerados, the team transformed the outdoor space into a welcoming community living room, creating a relaxed environment where people could come together, get to know one another and enjoy good conversation. Comfortable chairs, colourful rugs, cushions, plants and tables were brought outside to create an inviting space that encouraged residents to stop, stay and connect.

Unlike traditional community events, there were no speeches, no formal activities and no agenda. Instead, residents were invited to enjoy a cuppa, join a game and spend time with neighbours, local organisations and housing colleagues in an informal setting.

The event brought together residents, community organisations and council teams, providing opportunities to discuss neighbourhood issues, access advice and strengthen local connections.

The Public Living Room at Buckskin

Lorna Collisson, Community Engagement Manager at SNG said: "We wanted to do something different and create a space where people felt comfortable and welcome from the moment they arrived. By taking elements you would normally find indoors, such as rugs, cushions, plants and comfortable seating, and bringing them outside, we created a community space that felt relaxed, inviting and fun.

"It was wonderful to see residents stopping to chat, meeting new people and connecting with each other. Events like this help us build stronger relationships with our communities, and we're excited to bring more pop-up events to neighbourhoods across the borough."

The event reflects the community engagement's team commitment to engaging directly with residents, making services more accessible and creating opportunities for people to connect with those living and working in their neighbourhoods.

Following the success of the Buckskin event, the engagement team and Camerados will be hosting a series of further community living room pop-ups throughout the summer. Residents are invited to drop in, enjoy a cuppa and meet their neighbours at the following locations:

  • Thursday 6 August – Stratton Park, South Ham 11am to 2pm
  • Thursday 13 August – Russell Howard Park, South Ham 11am to 2pm
  • Thursday 20 August – Stag Hill, South Ham- 11am to 2pm
  • Thursday 27 August – Ridgeway Centre, Buckskin- 11am to 2pm

Everyone is welcome, with no booking required.