It’s difficult to know what people think – and so you can’t know whether your own thoughts, worries or hopes are shared with other people. That can be hard, in troubling times.

At Bishopthorpe Road Street Party last month, we decided to ask a few questions, using the techniques of Common Ground. We made a flip chart, stood at ‘Cherry Tree Corner’ (opposite Sainsbury’s) and asked passersby if they wanted to add a dot to the chart. It was a lovely day for a chat and people were in a festive mood. We had decided to be there for just an hour, but lots of people stopped and talked about what they thought, and where to put their ‘dot’.

It certainly provoked some discussions, and we’re going to do it again sometime!