Your role in the community
Becoming a British citizen or settling in the UK brings responsibilities but also opportunities. Everyone has the opportunity to participate in their community. This section looks at some of the responsibilities of being a citizen and gives information about how you can help to make your community a better place to live and work.
Values and responsibilities
Although Britain is one of the world’s most diverse societies, there is a set of shared values and responsibilities that everyone can agree with. These values and responsibilities include:
- to obey and respect the law
- to be aware of the rights of others and respect those rights
- to treat others with fairness
- to behave responsibly
- to help and protect your family
- to respect and preserve the environment
- to treat everyone equally, regardless of sex, race, religion, age, disability, class or sexual orientation
- to work to provide for yourself and your family
- to help others
- to vote in local and national government elections.
Taking on these values and responsibilities will make it easier for you to become a full and active citizen.
Being a good neighbour
When you move into a new house or apartment, introduce yourself to the people who live near you. Getting to know your neighbours can help you to become part of the community and make friends. Your neighbours are also a good source of help – for example, they may be willing to feed your pets if you are away, or offer advice on local shops and services.
You can help prevent any problems and conflicts with your neighbours by respecting their privacy and limiting how much noise you make. Also try to keep your garden tidy, and only put your refuse bags and bins on the street or in communal areas if they are due to be collected.
Getting involved in local activities
Volunteering and helping your community are an important part of being a good citizen. They enable you to integrate and get to know 154 other people. It helps to make your community a better place if residents support each other. It also helps you to fulfil your duties as a citizen, such as behaving responsibly and helping others.
Becoming a British citizen or settling in the UK brings responsibilities and opportunities. Although Britain is diverse, there are shared values and responsibilities everyone can agree with. These include obeying and respecting the law, being aware of and respecting others’ rights, treating others fairly, behaving responsibly, helping and protecting your family, respecting and preserving the environment, and treating everyone equally regardless of sex, race, religion, age, disability, class or sexual orientation. They also include working to provide for yourself and your family, helping others, and voting in local and national government elections. Taking these on helps you become a full and active citizen. As a good neighbour, introduce yourself. Knowing neighbours can help you become part of the community, make friends and find help, such as feeding pets while you are away or advice on local shops and services. Prevent problems by respecting privacy, limiting noise, keeping your garden tidy, and putting refuse bags and bins out only when due for collection. Volunteering and helping your community are important parts of being a good citizen: they help you integrate, get to know people, make the community better, and fulfil duties such as behaving responsibly and helping others.
The handbook text is reproduced under the terms printed in Life in the United Kingdom: A Guide for New Residents, 3rd edition: © Crown copyright 2013. It is reproduced accurately, the title is given, and this site does not use the Home Office crest or imitate the official edition. We are not an official publication. The reproduced text is the 3rd edition (2013). Later official impressions changed some references from the Queen to King Charles III and renamed some institutions. Where something looks dated, check the current official handbook on GOV.UK.
Practice questions
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Which of these is given in the handbook as a shared responsibility for people in the UK?
The text lists voting in local and national government elections as a shared responsibility.What does the handbook recommend doing when you move into a new house or apartment?
It advises introducing yourself to nearby residents to become part of the community.According to the handbook, how can you help avoid problems with neighbours?
Respecting neighbours’ privacy and limiting noise are recommended to prevent conflicts.What benefit of volunteering and helping the community is mentioned?
The text says volunteering helps you integrate and get to know other people.