x+why as a Third Place: The Importance of Community

Article by Catrin Miles, Community Associate at People's Mission Hall

‍

What is a Third Place and why are they Important?

According to sociologist Ray Oldenburg, a Third Place is ‘a place where people have the opportunity to meet different people, exchange ideas, network, relax and enjoy their free time’ (Science Blogs: 2024).

‍

When looking at the UK specifically, we can see Third Places have existed for centuries, most commonly in the form of ‘Public Houses’ or pubs. A pub has now become a staple of British culture, but more importantly it’s a perfect example of a Third Place that people from all backgrounds can access to come together and share ideas, watch sports or meet new people. Of-course there’s an over-18s age restriction, but there are still adults of all ages that frequent pubs across the UK. According to Briggs and Carr: (2015), ‘Intergenerational spaces can enhance social and emotional understanding between age groups and increase civic harmony’. I think it’s important to point out that most pubs are situated in small, local communities where people can gather at least once a week. This way, a patron is regularly seeing similar people who most likely nearby; it really fosters that sense of community.

The COVID pandemic brought our need for Third Places into a new light; the result of nationwide lockdowns made us realise how important community spaces are. These lockdowns were of course lifesaving, but emphasised how individualistic society can be, an example of this is people hoarding supplies and leaving nothing for others. If we had a stronger community in wider society in general instead of a hyper-individual mentality, perhaps we would all feel more supported navigating work and life. However, a positive outcome of the COVID lockdowns is that people now seem more invested in community than ever. Personally, I will never be taking places like the gym, the cinema, public parks and local coffee shops for granted again and will be utilising these places as much as possible; these are also all great examples of Third Places.

Why are Third Places important in a city like London?

Third Places are even more important in a hectic city like London because it’s so easy to get caught up in the fast-paced ‘hustle’ culture. It’s commonplace for people in Western cities especially to act mainly within their own self-interest, forgetting we should be responsible for the wellbeing of our friends, peers, neighbours and colleagues. It can create an isolating environment, which is especially evident in the London way of life through ‘deer in the headlights’ culture; I’ve read articles about people being mugged or having medical episodes in public and being met with the surrounding crowd watching in silence. We need to encourage a sense of community within all aspects of our life again, and ThirdPlaces are an ideal starting point.

‍

“Life without community has produced, for many, a lifestyle consisting mainly of a home-towork-and-back-again shuttle.” (Oldenburg: 2016)

‍

What are the criteria for a Third Place?

Before delving further into the different elements of a Third Place, it’s important to establish the criteria for one. According to Anderson (2023), the main criteria for being a Third Place is:

1. A place that fosters intersectionality.

2. A place that fosters ‘community organising’.

3. A place that fosters consciousness through dialogue and co-learning.

4. A place that’s always evolving, filled with imperfections that are acknowledged and are the focus of ongoing collective reflection and dialogue.

‍

Personally, I love these criteria as I’m already associating it with how much it relates to x+why and the community we have here. At x+why, we’re proud to have an intersectional community. Accessibility also greatly ties into this concept and aligns well with having Third Places in big cities. We can easily access public transport that can take us anywhere around the city in a short space of time. This also allows Third Places to be accessible for older people who may not be able to drive which is so important as elderly people are often the most isolated in society.

x+why as a Third Place: Co-working as Community

Our culture at x+why revolves around being purpose-driven, how do we use that culture to foster our own community? I’ve spoken a lot about how Third Places are needed as the in-between for work and home, but what if there was a way to combine the two?

I’ve said above how Third Places are about fostering the culture we want to create, and x+why is set on creating a space of socialisation, opportunities and collaboration. According to the Executive Centre(2024), ‘50% of remote workers report feeling disconnected or lonely’. Spaces like x+why perfectly bridge the gap between remote working and 5-days-in-office to challenge what we think we know about work. In doing so, we have created a space that allows for more creativity, new perspectives, collaboration and more autonomy. Co-working spaces like ours could be one of the most modern versions of a Third Place yet. According to FlexJobs, ‘65% of employees feel significantly more productive when granted the flexibility to choose their work environment’, which is exactly what we’re providing our members. Furthermore, we’re also meeting people’s physical and mental health needs by organising events where there’s food, opportunities for socialisation, and wellbeing.

It's also important to point out how the space itself lends itself to be a good example of a Third Place.We prioritise making our spaces as environmentally friendly as possible, with ergonomic furniture and lots of plants! The aim is to create a space where people enjoy meeting and working, that exemplifies our purpose of being sustainably led. This is another reason why we try to ensure our members are local businesses or also purpose-driven; our community is based on meaningful connections and local people. Community growth is one of the pinnacles of x+why’s success and our community isn’t even solely in-person either. With the member portal and the launch of our upcoming app, our community is also taking up space online. This enables our members to connect with even more people which can again lead to further opportunities.

Third Places are increasingly becoming recognised as an essential element of community building. These spaces can range from cafes, libraries, gyms, or most recently co-working spaces. I’ve shown how x+why should be considered a Third Place due to the facilities we provide our members, alongside the meaningful connections that are established here on a daily basis.

‍

Imagery credit: Generalist World community event hosted at People's Mission Hall

‍