The one change that worked: I felt like an outsider in my village until I found a simple way to connect

"I live in a fairly average town in Oxfordshire, and despite having friends and family nearby, I never felt as if I was properly a part of the community. I didn't feel rooted, or that I knew my neighbours beyond a quick hello. I moved here in my late 20s with my partner and spent a lot of time at home. In my 30s, I got a dog, had children and started working from home. As a result, I spent a lot more time in my local area, but I still felt like an outsider."

"At this point in my life, where I was focused on building a family and setting down my own roots, this lack of connection made me feel isolated until I started volunteering. It started with the parent-teacher association (PTA). Before I had children, I never imagined I would be a member of the PTA. I thought people who got involved were a certain type of parent with a passion for clipboards and too much time on their hands."

"When a friend mentioned the PTA at my children's school needed volunteers for the summer fete, I decided to give it a go. I was tasked with running the glitter face-paint stall and spent a joyful couple of hours covered in sparkles. My technique was questionable, but I had lots of wonderful conversations and fun while attempting to get glitter to stick to people's faces. Since then, I have become a fully signed up member of the PTA."

"I've applied temporary tattoos, sold cakes and run the bottle tombola. I've set up countless folding tables and moved many boxes of fizzy drinks, sweets and pocket money toys to be sold at school discos. The experience has been overwhelmingly positive, and it's completely changed my opinion about rolling up my sleeves and getting stuck in. I love getting to see a bit more of my children's lives and finding out what they are like at school."

A person living in an average Oxfordshire town felt disconnected despite nearby friends and family. They did not feel rooted or know neighbours beyond brief greetings, and they spent much of their time at home after moving in their late 20s. In their 30s, having a dog, children, and working from home increased local time, yet isolation continued. The feeling changed when they volunteered for their children’s school PTA summer fete. Running a glitter face-paint stall led to enjoyable conversations and a positive experience. They later became a fully signed-up PTA member, helping with tattoos, cake sales, bottle tombolas, school discos, and other tasks. They gained insight into their children’s school lives and met PTA members who did not match their earlier stereotypes.

Read at www.theguardian.com