I was out walking Jill one evening and a firework went off and people came out and started clapping in the street we were walking along, so I joined in and there was a lovely carmarderie. That was when we used to clap last year.
When they did this in the Spring all it did round my way was to encourage groups of people out on the street. They would dutifully stand and applaud on their doorsteps. When that sixty seconds or so was over they would leave their curtilages and assemble on the pavement in groups of half a dozen or more to discuss he day's events.
Standing out at 8PM in the warm and light last year, chatting with neighbours at a distance, isn't quite the same as standing out at 8PM in January. Standing in the dark and rain banging a saucepan lid with a wooden spoon will be ... interesting.
There were some here last time. Not really sure what benefit it has, so I probably won't, but I appreciate them just as much... just don't want to upset the dogs.