Over the last 18 months, at the Centre for Democratic Business we’ve been speaking to a range of organisations and individuals who are concerned about, or part of, revitalising the future of Britain’s social clubs. 

As they represent more than a century of community wealth, saving these local institutions can protect and enhance our social infrastructure, revitalise our social fabric, and provide a long-term generative economic base in our communities.

Our current work in this area includes:

— Creating an initial concept paper outlining the overall problems and opportunities for Britain’s social clubs

— Hosting a roundtable with development partners to explore their experience of working with clubs and the challenges they’re currently facing

— Meeting on a monthly basis with a new working group (made up of organisations who joined the roundtable) to look at fundraising opportunities 

— Being awarded a grant from Network for Social Change to create a series of case studies, a support survey for clubs, and develop a fundraising bid 

— Drafting a paper that outlines the need for research on the current state of social clubs (coming soon)

— Publishing an article in the next issue of STIR magazine, that reviews the origins and history of these social clubs and the opportunities for their renewal as a unique way to expand and strengthen the democratic economy in our everyday lives. 

Who have we spoken to?

Club & Institute Union, Co-op & Community Finance, Architectural Heritage Fund, Cwmpas (formerly Wales Co-op Centre), Co-ops UK, Co-op Culture, Community Shares Company, Just Pubs and Clubs and Co-operate Scotland.

Getting involved

We are continuing to build a coalition of interested parties, so if you feel you or your organisation can inform this project please get in touch through our Contact section or via email.