Last week, the Belonging Forum continued its series of community visits, travelling to Watford in the UK to explore the realities of social connection in a town that presents a rich and complex picture of modern belonging.

The purpose of these visits is to inform the development of the Charter of Belonging, a global initiative which will be launched next year and will provide guiding principles that speak to personal and systemic dimensions of belonging.

Watford was selected for this visit because it offers a fascinating paradox. According to our latest Belonging Barometer survey, the constituency boasts incredibly high levels of social connection, with only 7% of residents reporting having zero close friends. This placed the constituency amongst the least socially isolated constituencies in the UK. Furthermore, job satisfaction is in the top 100 nationally, with many residents feeling their work is a meaningful part of their identity.

However, the same data shows that just 52% of residents feel a strong sense of belonging to their local area. It also shows that Watford ranks low (in the bottom 20%) for high life satisfaction.

We sought to understand this contrast firsthand. How can a community that is so successful at knitting people together on a personal level feel a disconnect from the place itself?

The Roundtable

We were pleased to co-host a roundtable with Matt Turmaine MP, a former local councillor with deep roots in the area, who helped us convene an outstanding collection of community leaders with deep knowledge of the challenges and opportunities of Watford.

This included representatives from Watford Community Housing, Hertfordshire Police, YMCA Watford, One Vision, Watford Women’s Centre, Hertfordshire Mind Network, Citizens Advice, Hertfordshire Fire Service, and local faith leaders from the Watford Synagogue and St Mary’s Church.

The mood was one of shared investment, with one participant noting Watford is fundamentally a “Yes town” with a willingness to come together.

Through our discussion, we explored various topics to discern what Watford does well, what it could do better, and what the rest of the UK could learn from the area.

The discussion brought to light several successful, innovative practices for building belonging:

• Commercial & Community Integration: We heard from the management of Atria Watford, the local shopping centre, about the commercial decision to become “Dog Friendly” following community feedback and surveying current retailers. This was cited as a success driven by community desire, proving that commercial spaces can serve as vital, non-religious community hubs that increase footfall and a sense of place.
• Collaborative Infrastructure: A standout example of resource-sharing is the “Charity Hub” located at Warner Bros. Studios. This hosts 12 charities, including W3RT and Home-Start, providing affordable rent and a high-quality collaborative environment that encourages organisations to work together rather than in isolation.
• Hyper-Local Connection: We learned about “Marvellous Mildred,” a street-level micro-community in West Watford. What began as a COVID WhatsApp group has evolved into a “village in an urban setting,” where neighbours share tools and monitor safety, and welcome new neighbours, proving that belonging often starts at the most local level.

The Pressures on Cohesion: Challenges and Threats

Alongside the positives, the group was also quite frank about the external pressures threatening to fracture the town’s sense of cohesion:

• The Weight of National Rhetoric: A deep frustration was expressed that national political rhetoric was undermining community cohesion, despite Watford’s diverse cultural and ethnic profile. One participant noted the devastating effect of telling people it takes “20 years before you belong,” suggesting this destroys the immediate sense of inclusion.
• The Fear of Isolation: The discussion highlighted the link between isolation and violence against women. Specific concern was raised regarding rising hate speech, with examples shared of Sikh and Muslim women being targeted, leading to fear and isolation on public transport. Our data supports this, showing that 35% of women feel unsafe walking alone at night.
• The Youth Funding Cliff: The group noted the collapse in adult volunteering post-COVID. This is compounded by funding models that create a cliff-edge of support, leaving young people aged 18–25 feeling abandoned after having built trusting relationships with support organisations. Similarly, youth-focused groups like the Cadets and Guides were highlighted as essential for building belonging amongst young people, and the demand for these organisations was really high. However, they were limited by a distinct shortfall in available volunteers, and would welcome strategies which could address this.
• The LGR Anxiety: The looming threat of Local Government Reorganisation (LGR), where the borough council may merge into a larger unitary authority of up to 350,000 people, was a major concern. Participants fear this structural change will dilute Watford’s hyper-local identity and sever the existing, strong community funding relationships

Final reflections: A Community of Candour and Commitment

The Watford roundtable was a powerful demonstration of a community that is deeply invested in its future. While the data provides the context, the discussion revealed the human reality: a strong, diverse town fighting to protect its identity against external pressures.

The roundtable concluded with a clear consensus on the town’s immediate needs, translating directly into a forward-looking ‘which-list’ of things participants would either bring to Watford, or positive aspects about Watford which they would take and replicate across the UK and beyond.

Participants called for the creation of a centrally located, intergenerational community hub open seven days a week, renewed funding to revive key events like the ‘Imagine Watford’ arts festival, and strategic investment to ensure sustainable support and mentorship for young people navigating the post-COVID landscape. What was clear though, was that the rest of the country could benefit from how tightly knit and collaborative Watford’s institutions and communities were.

The insights from this solutions-focused discussion, particularly how local dedication must contend with national rhetoric and structural threats, will be vital in shaping the Charter of Belonging into a document that truly serves communities worldwide.