New research from Neighbourly found that 71% say being neighbourly is still a core national value
84% believe we should be doing more as a society to encourage neighbourliness
#TheExtraHour campaign encourages people to use an hour to do something good
Community spirit may be part of the UK’s national identity, but new research suggests it’s not what it once was.

The study, commissioned by tech-for-good platform Neighbourly, found that just one in ten (11%) people feel today is the most neighbourly time to live, compared with 38% who said the 1990s or earlier and 24% who said the COVID-19 lockdowns brought people closer together.

Despite this, the desire to connect is still strong as 71% believe that being neighbourly is still a core national value.

Two-thirds (65%) of people said they’d use an extra hour in their day to help others, whether that’s checking in on a neighbour, volunteering locally or lending a hand with errands.

When asked whether we should be doing more as a society to encourage neighbourliness, more than eight in ten (84%) either agreed or strongly agreed.

With this in mind, Neighbourly has launched #TheExtraHour, a national campaign running throughout October encouraging people to use the hour gained when the clocks go back for a simple act of kindness.

While many say society feels less connected, neighbourly habits are still alive in small acts of everyday kindness, with 67% saying they know their neighbours either quite or very well and six in ten (60%) speak to them at least a few times a week.

When asked what being Neighbourly means, the most popular answers were saying hello or small talk (70%), helping with tasks like bins or shopping (58%) and checking in on people who live alone (47%).

Neighbourly CEO, Steve Butterworth, said: “People want community connection but, with life feeling busier than ever, it’s easy for time pressures to get in the way. The extra hour we gain when the clocks go back is a simple reminder that giving just a little time to others can make a lasting difference.”

Top ten neighbourly acts:
Take in parcels/post – 89%
Give a cup of sugar or other food item – 87%
Water plants while on holiday – 82%
Take bins in/out – 80%
Feed a pet – 79%
Borrow tools – 79%
Mind keys – 75%
Give lifts – 70%
Babysit for free in an emergency – 64%
Help organise a local event, like a street party – 53%


To pledge your hour or learn more, visit hub.neighbourly.com/the-extra-hour and follow #TheExtraHour on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.