Connect with your neighbours
Whether you’re new to your neighbourhood and want to make friends or have been in your neighbourhood for a while, many people want the same thing. To feel more connected to their neighbours.
We’ve put together ten ways to support you to make more meaningful connections with the people who live in your area.
Contact your neighbourhood partner
Why not get information and support to connect from your Neighbourhood Partner, through the contact box on the Neighbourhood Portals.
Tips for success
Tips for success
- Who should I invite and how?
- Start with someone you already know.
- Tap people on the shoulder.
- Send out a formal invitation. Create an invitation to place in your building's noticeboard, lifts or other online and physical places to promote the event.
- Ask people to invite others.
- Ask your building manager or Owners' Corporation Committee to help promote the event.
- Where should I have my event?
Library and community hubs: Community members may hire bookable spaces at an affordable rate. Many rooms are available for hire 7 days a week from 7am-10pm.
Parks: Check out the facilities you can use.
- Major parks and gardens - City of Melbourne
- Neighbourhood and local parks and reserves - City of Melbourne
- Playgrounds - City of Melbourne
- Walking your dog - City of Melbourne
Streets
- Melbourne walks and itineraries - What's On Melbourne
- Local history walks and tours - City of Melbourne
- Mapping Aboriginal Melbourne
Events
- What's On - City of Melbourne
- Museums and art galleries - What's On Melbourne
- Meetup | Find Local Groups, Events, and Activities Near You
- Laneway Learning Melbourne Casual Fun Classes
- Monthly highlights - What's On Melbourne
You can also consider local cafes, communal areas in residential buildings, or someone’s home.
- How can I get the best turnout?
- Think about your activity and target audience and choose a date and time that would suit most people. For instance:
- 🌞 Sunday late morning/afternoon: Suitable for an activity like 'Morning tea with pups' and 'Neighbours' day in the park,' as they are outdoor events that need to happen in daylight and you may find that that's when people are less likely to have other priorities. It's easy for people who work regular office hours, families with kids, younger people who have otherwise busy social lives.
- 🌛 Weekday after office hours: Suitable for an activity like 'Instant book club,' 'Board game social' and 'Neighbours' storytelling night' as they are indoor activities, are generally easy after-work activities for many and are more geared towards adults.
- 🌛 Friday after office hours: Suitable for more 'party' atmosphere activities like laneway parties, which participants don't have to arrive at a certain time and can also leave to go to other things on the same night. They need to be activities that are likely to attract many people.
- 🌞 Weekday mornings and afternoons: Suitable for activities geared towards people who may not be working regular office hours, such as parents with young children, people who have retired from work and more specific target groups (e.g. people who work in the evenings/nights or create their own flexible schedule).
- ❔If you can't quite figure it out, ask a few people that you want to invite for their input!
- Find places that are easy to get to and use. A few questions you can ask yourself:
- Is it in walking distance? How long would it take to get there? If people can't walk, is it easy to get there by other modes of transport? The easier it is to turn up, the better turnout you'll get!
- Is it a welcoming place? Accessible for people in wheelchairs and other mobility aids? Are there accessible toilets? Changing rooms/tables for parents? Is it a place that's known by people in your neighbourhood?
- Get RSVPs and send reminders! It's a good idea to ask people to commit by sending an RSVP or a message to say that they'll be there. You also want to remind people the day before the event in case they forgot. When things aren't in our usual routine, it's easier to forget.
- Make sure you have supporters, whether they're helping you organise the event or helping to encourage more people to attend.
- If it's a small activity (i.e. a small walking group, a book club), get people to contribute their ideas. It could be having a say in what day and time you meet, where the event happens or what happens at the event.
Access funding to support you
Access funding to support you
- What funding is available?
Connected Neighbourhoods Small Grants of up to $2000 are available to support the program objectives:
- increase community participation, connection, equity, diversity and inclusion
- empower community members to identify and respond to local issues and priorities.
Applications are open all year until the budget has been fully allocated. See the program guidelines on the website for details.
