When you’re next having a beverage at the Communities 1st Coffee Cart in St Albans civic centre, don’t be surprised if your drink is served with a song and a smile! There is a lot of interest in singing amongst the volunteers at the cart. This is because Emma, a recent recruit, has a deep interest in music and singing. Her love for music matches her enthusiasm for volunteering on the Coffee Cart.

Across the country, a quiet shift is happening. You can feel it in conversations with residents, partners, volunteers and staff. People are asking bigger questions - not just about the cost of living, the pressure on public services, or the uncertainty coming with the next budget, but about something more fundamental:

What kind of country are we becoming?

These aren’t questions about services or neighbourhood issues alone; they point to something deeper - the wider atmosphere we live in and the evolving story of who we are as a society.

Across the world, we are living through unsettled times. Wars, political divisions, economic pressures, and misinformation all create uncertainty. These global tensions don’t just play out on the news - they filter down into our communities. You can hear it in everyday conversations: worries about rising costs, concerns about “others” moving into neighbourhoods, and a sense of mistrust between groups who once shared common ground.