We’ve spent the last century expanding our cities, scaling businesses, and promoting the independence of the individual. Politicians announced that there was ‘no such thing as society’, while suburban sprawl and digital nomads spread across the world.

But something else is happening across society: a quiet return to the village mindset. As the poet John Donne wrote, no man is an island and it seems as if we’re slowly remembering that.

In the business world, being part of a supportive network is often the difference between gaining momentum and burning out. There’s a reason why start-ups have transformed online community-building into a thriving industry.

And in education, we’re seeing this shift happen and it’s not a day too soon. Recent headlines in the UK have highlighted the growing power and presence of PTAs in schools. These groups have always been there, but have become critical partners in supporting schools in need of resources. They bring in much-needed funds, but they also bring in engaged, invested parents who want to make education work better.

There’s compelling data to back this up. Parentkind is a UK charity that supports parental involvement in education, and they have conducted research into how parents can help elevate their children’s’ education. John Hattie’s landmark study, ‘Visible Learning’, found that the effect of parental engagement across a student’s school career is equivalent to adding two to three years to their education.

Parentkind’s Parent Voice Report 2021 showed that 85% of parents want to play an active role in their child’s education. Where schools do make space for parent involvement, the gains are felt across the board in positive outcomes and student well-being.

A parent recently shared their experience at their local kindergarten with us. With limited funding, the parents came together to care for and maintain the school environment. They played an active role in shaping the space. Instead of letting the kindergarten close, they took action and their children thrived. They also became firm friends and felt more connected to what their kids were learning and doing. Win-win, if you ask us!

Storytime is committed to working with schools and PTAs to promote childhood literacy and a love of reading, and we’re increasingly being supported by parent communities that step forward to help fund literacy projects and bring storytelling to life. This makes a big difference, and some projects wouldn’t even happen without them.

When real communities are built around stories and a shared sense of purpose, people feel less alone, and they achieve more. They don’t need to be local, but they need a common aim. When we each give a little of ourselves to the world around us, we find that the global village is still very much alive. Perhaps we aren’t as alone as we thought!

Where could you start? There are some great inspiring advice and resources for parents at the PTA site, with checklists and useful online seminars and information on the organisation’s objectives.