They say everybody needs good neighbours.

Yet according to research from Opinion Matters on behalf of Ordnance Survey, a third of people don’t even know the names of the person living next door.

The survey reveals that 41 per cent of folk in Yorkshire, a county renowned for its friendliness, don’t know their neighbour’s name – the same percentage as London.

Twenty two per cent of people in our region don’t know where their local town hall is, and one in 20 don’t know the location of their community centre.

Nationally, the research found 90 per cent of people surveyed don’t take part in any monthly voluntary activity which benefits their local community.

Community stalwart Elizabeth Hellmich is a fine example of someone willing to give their time for their community.

Eleven years ago, the mother and grandmother from Heaton set up the Safe Project in the aftermath of the Manningham riots to help people in local communities feel safe on their streets.

The project, along with other initiatives, is still running and that is down to community support.

But Elizabeth, who was awarded the MBE for her work in bringing people together, says even communities like hers struggle for volunteers. “Bradford has a transient population. People move on for social or family reasons, you have young people moving away from home because the jobs they want aren’t available in Bradford – the whole community has just fallen apart,” says Elizabeth.

“In Heaton we have the Heaton Township Association and it’s a struggle to get people to come on board. They don’t want to do extra work, and you can’t get younger people on the committee because they are working to provide for their families. Most of the volunteers are 65-plus.”

Elizabeth believes many communities are also losing their identities due to the development of open spaces – a key issue the Telegraph & Argus is highlighting through our Save Our Green Spaces campaign.

“Buildings are just popping up here, there and everywhere. Green spaces are going and children don’t get to play together as they used to,” says Elizabeth.

In May, Elizabeth and her supporters plan to hold a joint May Day and Diamond Jubilee celebration on Heaton Hill. They are asking people to bring a blanket and food and join in a community celebration.

Elizabeth welcomes Ordnance Survey’s latest GeoVation Challenge, which asks budding innovators and entrepreneurs: “How can we transform neighbourhoods in Britain together?”

Participants are asked to contribute ideas to improve neighbourhoods and communities across Britain and have the chance at pitching for a £115,000 prize fund in a Dragon’s Den-style showcase later in the year.

“I think it is a jolly good idea, but they will probably find the majority of people who take part are doing it already,” says Elizabeth. “But if it kick-starts some people into doing something it will be absolutely brilliant.”

Keith Nathan, chief executive of Age UK Bradford, formerly Age Concern, explains one of the main issues of the Warm Homes Healthy People initiative the charity is involved in focuses on neighbourly help.

“In Bradford, there is a great deal of help and support, particularly across the generations, but I think there is a general issue that as people’s lives get busier, particularly if they are travelling further for work and everything else, there is a tendency for community links being put under pressure. I think that is true across all our communities,” he says.

“There are lots of pressures on community, but I think Bradford is pretty good for what is done.”

Chris Parker, one of the GeoVation organisers at Ordnance Survey, says: “This new challenge is really open to everyone. In communities across Britain we have residents who are heavily involved in local projects, while others are far less active. However, the common theme is that we all experience local problems which we would like to see improved.

“In the current economic climate, we are all being asked to do ‘more for less’ and ‘do things differently’. The new challenge allows anyone to submit an idea which could, ultimately, help deliver solutions in local neighbourhoods.”

The challenge runs until March 28. The best entries will be invited to further develop their ideas at a GeoVation Camp before going on to pitch head-to-head for funding.

For more information, visit challenge.geovation.org.uk.