What is it really like to live or work in Buckinghamshire? What do people love about their communities, what do they find difficult, and what would they like to see change?
From November 2026 to February 2027, Heart of Bucks will be running On The Table, a community listening initiative designed to encourage informal conversations across Buckinghamshire about what life is like in our county of contrast.
The idea is simple: bring people together around a table and give them the opportunity to talk openly about their lives and their communities. It could be a conversation over dinner with family, a coffee with friends, a discussion at a lunch club or a get-together with colleagues. There is no set format, no prescribed list of topics and no right or wrong answers – we want to hear what matters to you.
Conversations at your table might include topics like housing, transport, the cost of living, health, jobs, community safety, or local facilities. They might highlight things that make a community a great place to live, challenges that make everyday life harder, or issues that residents feel are being overlooked. By bringing together lots of these small, informal conversations, we hope to develop a deeper understanding of the experiences, challenges and aspirations shared by people and communities across Buckinghamshire. Feedback from each table will be brought together in a report to raise awareness and help inform conversations with charities, community organisations, public bodies and decision-makers.
To make this happen, we’re inviting anyone who lives, works or spends time in Buckinghamshire to host their own On The Table conversation. You don’t need to be an expert or represent a group – you simply need to bring people together and create a welcoming space for an honest and open conversation.
Decisions about communities should be informed by the experiences of the people who live in them. By encouraging more people to share what life is like in Buckinghamshire, On The Table aims to ensure a wider range of voices and experiences are heard – especially those that might not usually feature in formal consultations.
Could you host a table?
Whether you’re part of a community group, a local business, a school, a sports club or simply want to bring together friends and neighbours, we’d love for you to get involved.
Register to host a table here.
For further information, contact Niamh at niamh@heartofbucks.org or call 01296 330134.
