Social clubs in deprived areas across England to be revitalised as spaces for community action – thanks to National Lottery funding boost

Social clubs – such as Working Men’s or Trade clubs – in areas of deprivation across England, including coastal, ex-coalfield, rural and metropolitan areas, will be supported to strengthen their role as spaces for community action through a new National Lottery funded programme to help tackle local poverty, disadvantage, and discrimination.

As part of Stir to Action’s national initiative, 21st Century Social Clubs, the programme will provide business support, grants, training for new community organisers, and the creation of a national network. It aims to mobilise thousands of social club members to strengthen local economies, build social cohesion, and safeguard these vital cultural spaces for future generations.

Decades of economic decline, combined with the widespread loss of the conditions that once enabled working-class communities to organise effectively, have also led to a sharp decline in social spaces. However, the continued existence of member-owned social clubs across England represents a powerful social legacy, and their rich heritage of local democracy, arts and culture, affordable leisure, and mutual support still holds considerable potential.

Alongside community-led action, Stir to Action and programme partner Power to Change  will engage government and funders to improve approaches to local regeneration, advocate for the inclusion of social clubs in major public investment programmes, and seek to unlock significant new funding for the wider movement. Over five years, the programme will support social clubs to increase and diversify their membership, strengthen their trading model, and adapt their role to meet the changing needs of local communities.

Jonny Gordon-Farleigh, founder of Stir to Action and programme director of 21st Century Social Clubs, said: “It’s about time that these member-owned institutions are recognised as vital local spaces where people can come together to work on issues they are affected by everyday.”

Nick Plumb, Director of Policy and Insight at Power to Change said: "Social clubs are, in many ways, decades-old community businesses. We're excited to get cracking, putting these institutions centre stage again, in their communities and across the country.”

Ultimately, the programme’s ambition is to reawaken a “sleeping giant” – once a national movement of 4 million members – to transform how inequality is addressed by putting community power at the centre of economic and social change.

To deliver this work, Stir to Action has received more than £2.7 million of truly life-changing funding over five years. Thanks to National Lottery players, the funding comes from The National Lottery Community Fund’s Solidarity Fund – a key part of its efforts to deliver its strategy and address inequity and inequality by supporting experienced organisations working with communities facing poverty, disadvantage and discrimination. It is central to its commitment to put community agency, power and control at the heart of its funding in England, as it plans to distribute at least £3 billion of life-changing grants by 2030.