Tied with Ribbons: What Community Means in Fitzrovia
At this year’s Fitzrovia Fête, we invited visitors to pause for a moment and share their thoughts on one simple and thought-provoking question: What does community mean to you?
Armed with a basket of ribbons and pens, children, families, neighbours and friends wrote down their answers and tied them to our display. By the end of the day, we had gathered 78 heartfelt reflections from the people who live, work and study in Fitzrovia.
The responses were as varied as the people who contributed them — some a single word, others whole sentences, some thoughtful, others playful. Taken together, they painted a picture of what makes community feel alive and real in Fitzrovia.
A Place of Belonging
Many spoke of belonging, togetherness and support. Words like ‘relationships’, ‘friendship’, ‘family’ and ‘neighbours’ appeared again and again. One ribbon simply read: “Like a second home.” Another described community as: “A group of people creating a strong, safe and happy place, where people feel like they belong.”
Care and Support
Caring for one another came through strongly: “Looking out for each other”, “Helping each other”, and “Support. Solidarity.” summed it up simply. Others reminded us of the importance of “safe spaces for kids” and a “safe haven for children.”
Diversity and Connection
Perhaps unsurprisingly, many comments celebrated Fitzrovia’s diversity. “Diverse people living together in harmony”, “Variety, friendship, connection”, and “People, culture, togetherness, resilience” all came through. For some, community is about fun and joy: “I like dancing”, “Smiles and supporting each other”, or simply “Love and happiness.”
Shared Experiences
People also highlighted the value of coming together for activities — whether that’s “art workshops”, “more street festivals”, or “socialising and meeting new people.” One ribbon even noted that community is: “A place to kill the loneliness in a fun way.”
What shines through is that in Fitzrovia, community is about people — connecting, caring, supporting, and celebrating life together.
We’re grateful to everyone who took the time to shared their words with us at the fête. Your ribbons now form part of our collective story, reminding us that community isn’t just something we have — it’s something we make, every time we show up for each other. At Fitzrovia Community Centre, we like to call it the Spirit of Fitzrovia!
Want To Contribute Your Answer?
Wonderful! We’re keen to keep this question open and alive and so we’d love to hear from you. Please use our online form on the button below to submit your thoughts. Thank you!
