Project or problem-based groups

One of the strongest and most prevalent examples of neighbourhood initiatives centre around particular projects or even problems that have been identified within the community. This type of circle can often branch off into several other ‘sub-circles’, in which the focus becomes more refined. Several projects that bring local neighbourhoods together often center around goals of sustainability and the environment, in which efforts to care for nature work in tandem with bringing people together. 

Often the ethos of looking out for our local neighbourhoods and the people within them works synonymously with such projects and so they act as natural companions. Some place-making projects involve the process of people and neighbourhoods making or creating a place or space together, which acts as the catalyst for groups to come together and for relationships between people to form as a notable by-product of the groups initial purpose. It is in working towards a shared goal, project, aim or initiative that often provides the buy-in to bring people in the neighbourhood together and encourage them to bond over a shared enterprise. While people might initially come for the project, it is often the relationships that form in the project-based circles that prompts their decision to come back.

Examples: 

• Environmental focused circles (McLaren Vale Biodiversity, Sustainable Communities SA, Friends of Parks SA)
• Place-making projects (Community Sheds, Community Gardens and Street Gardens)
• Swaps and community-based exchanges (Food/Plant and Produce Swaps, Adelaide LETS (Local Exchange Trading System), The Buy Nothing Project, Knitting 4 Charities)