Across the UK social clubs are disappearing at record speed and with them, the places where neighbours meet, friendships form and communities thrive. One of the UKs biggest place based charities, Local Trust, has warned that each closure deeply damages already struggling areas, leaving people more isolated and less supported.

Their loss, say Local Trust is felt most sharply in doubly disadvantaged neighbourhoods where few alternative spaces exist to bring people together and socialise.

Local Trust was a key part of the Stronger Local Places: Rebuilding the Social Club Movement conference, which brought together community leaders, charities and politicians to highlight how clubs could adapt and survive. Discussion also highlighted the barriers they face, from lack of registration to being overlooked by major funders in favour of schools or GP surgeries.

Speaking at the conference Madeleine Jennings, head of policy and communications at Local Trust said: “Face-to-face, in person interaction is vital to growing trust and familiarity between community members. Social clubs are among the engines of social capital, serving communities in so many ways by improving outcomes in health, education, employment and wellbeing. They are the also the perfect setting for the fostering of community identity based on shared interests or occupations. We know there is a loneliness crisis among older people, and in part that’s because of the loss of the networks and mutual support that social clubs create.”

She also outlined how many Big Local areas have utilised social clubs to serve their residents.

“Many communities have used clubs to provide informal emotional and mental health support, especially during times of crisis. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the pink ladies of Scotland and Bushbury Hill Big Local pivoted the social club to deliver food parcels, check in on isolated neighbours, or provide creative outlets for stress relief.”


Further key points highlighted during the conference included:
Social infrastructure and social capital have a key part to play in improving outcomes for deprived communities, as evidenced through the Big Local programme.
Many social clubs are not registered, making it difficult for any major funding or formalised funding opportunity to come to them.
There is the need to design social infrastructure and clubs specifically for young people. This could include after-school clubs, weekend programmes, or interest-based youth groups.