A community map is very much what it sounds like - it’s a map created by members of a community or group. The map shows things that you are interested in or concerned about. It is built from your own local knowledge and therefore the only expertise you need is what you already know from living in your area. You are the expert! The topics that could be included in a map are virtually endless, but some examples are:

• local organisations, groups and facilities
• local events, workshops and meetings
• an archive of local history
• an inventory of “unofficial green space
• details of local planning applications
• areas where people do and do not feel safe and why
• monitoring a local environmental problem,  such as noise pollution
• a collection of cycling or walking routes favoured by local people

Why do you need a map?

A lot of the decisions made about local areas in the UK are based on “evidence” collected or supplied by the government. While this seems reasonable, often this “official “information doesn’t tell the whole story or evidence is missing altogether. Bringing information based on local knowledge to a situation can help challenge official views and help create positive transformations in your community.

Another valuable reason for having a community map is simply to find out what is going on in where you live.  Local projects, events and facilities are often available on your doorstop without you knowing.  A community map provides a way to capture all of this information in one place. So whether you’re interested in food growing projects or attending your local safer neigbourhoods meeting it can be useful to you.