21st Century Social Clubs
Rebuilding Britain’s social club movement for a new generation
Rebuilding Britain’s social club movement for a new generation
Why do clubs matter?
Why do clubs matter?
Why do clubs matter?
For over a century, social clubs have been vital to the fabric of civic life. As member-run community assets, they embody a rich heritage of neighbourly trust, popular culture, and democratic engagement.
For over a century, social clubs have been vital to the fabric of civic life. As member-run community assets, they embody a rich heritage of neighbourly trust, popular culture, and democratic engagement.
For over a century, social clubs have been vital to the fabric of civic life. As member-run community assets, they embody a rich heritage of neighbourly trust, popular culture, and democratic engagement.
Social clubs remain essential spaces for connection, learning, and participation – especially in today’s fragmented society. Yet, despite their enduring relevance, social clubs remain curiously overlooked by both government policy and third sector support.
Social clubs remain essential spaces for connection, learning, and participation – especially in today’s fragmented society. Yet, despite their enduring relevance, social clubs remain curiously overlooked by both government policy and third sector support.
Social clubs remain essential spaces for connection, learning, and participation – especially in today’s fragmented society. Yet, despite their enduring relevance, social clubs remain curiously overlooked by both government policy and third sector support.
That’s why we’ve launched 21st Century Social Clubs – a national platform to recognise, protect, and revitalise these vital community assets for generations to come.
That’s why we’ve launched 21st Century Social Clubs – a national platform to recognise, protect, and revitalise these vital community assets for generations to come.
That’s why we’ve launched 21st Century Social Clubs – a national platform to recognise, protect, and revitalise these vital community assets for generations to come.
National Platform
National Platform
National Platform
That’s why we’ve launched 21st Century Social Clubs – a national platform to recognise, protect, and revitalise these vital community assets for generations to come:
That’s why we’ve launched 21st Century Social Clubs – a national platform to recognise, protect, and revitalise these vital community assets for generations to come:
That’s why we’ve launched 21st Century Social Clubs – a national platform to recognise, protect, and revitalise these vital community assets for generations to come:
Support Survey
Support Survey
Support Survey
Our national support survey – published in early 2025 – provides new evidence about the current fragility and support requirements of social clubs, while calling for more patient finance, specialist business advice, and supportive policy from the government.
Our national support survey – published in early 2025 – provides new evidence about the current fragility and support requirements of social clubs, while calling for more patient finance, specialist business advice, and supportive policy from the government.
Our national support survey – published in early 2025 – provides new evidence about the current fragility and support requirements of social clubs, while calling for more patient finance, specialist business advice, and supportive policy from the government.
National Conference in September 2025
National Conference in September 2025
National Conference in September 2025
Our national conference – Stronger Local Places: Rebuilding the Social Club Movement – is a one-day event to advocate for a new generation of social clubs across Britain, particularly focusing on their role as cultural spaces, social infrastructure, and places for community connection. During the event, communities, policymakers, charities, and funders will explore how social clubs can address today’s pressing social and economic challenges.
Our national conference – Stronger Local Places: Rebuilding the Social Club Movement – is a one-day event to advocate for a new generation of social clubs across Britain, particularly focusing on their role as cultural spaces, social infrastructure, and places for community connection. During the event, communities, policymakers, charities, and funders will explore how social clubs can address today’s pressing social and economic challenges.
Our national conference – Stronger Local Places: Rebuilding the Social Club Movement – is a one-day event to advocate for a new generation of social clubs across Britain, particularly focusing on their role as cultural spaces, social infrastructure, and places for community connection. During the event, communities, policymakers, charities, and funders will explore how social clubs can address today’s pressing social and economic challenges.
Our event partners include Wrigleys Solicitors, Architectural Heritage Fund, Rayne Foundation, and Local Trust.
Our event partners include Wrigleys Solicitors, Architectural Heritage Fund, Rayne Foundation, and Local Trust.
Our event partners include Wrigleys Solicitors, Architectural Heritage Fund, Rayne Foundation, and Local Trust.
Club Charter
Club Charter
Club Charter
We’re working with the Co-operative Party and a group of MPs – including Kirsty McNeill, Stella Creasy, and Stephen Doughty – on a national engagement process to create a new ‘club charter’, which will call on the government to offer better policy, funding, and business support. We’re also sending a delegation of club members to visit the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to discuss how the government can support this vital sector.
We’re working with the Co-operative Party and a group of MPs – including Kirsty McNeill, Stella Creasy, and Stephen Doughty – on a national engagement process to create a new ‘club charter’, which will call on the government to offer better policy, funding, and business support. We’re also sending a delegation of club members to visit the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to discuss how the government can support this vital sector.
We’re working with the Co-operative Party and a group of MPs – including Kirsty McNeill, Stella Creasy, and Stephen Doughty – on a national engagement process to create a new ‘club charter’, which will call on the government to offer better policy, funding, and business support. We’re also sending a delegation of club members to visit the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to discuss how the government can support this vital sector.
Training Sessions
Training Sessions
Training Sessions
With more than two-thirds of social clubs not receiving any external support or advice, we’re working with Co-operatives UK on a free series of online webinars for social clubs in England, Wales, and Scotland. These sessions explore how social clubs are revitalising their local spaces, and signpost social clubs to free business support for clubs in each nation.
With more than two-thirds of social clubs not receiving any external support or advice, we’re working with Co-operatives UK on a free series of online webinars for social clubs in England, Wales, and Scotland. These sessions explore how social clubs are revitalising their local spaces, and signpost social clubs to free business support for clubs in each nation.
With more than two-thirds of social clubs not receiving any external support or advice, we’re working with Co-operatives UK on a free series of online webinars for social clubs in England, Wales, and Scotland. These sessions explore how social clubs are revitalising their local spaces, and signpost social clubs to free business support for clubs in each nation.
Publications
Publications
Publications
Publications
ARTICLE
Publications
ARTICLE
Publications
ARTICLE
Publications
INTERVIEW
Our plans
Our plans
Our plans
Over the next few years, we are expanding our research programme,hosting more regional and national events, creating public campaigns, and working closely with policymakers. Let us know if you’d like to work with us.
Over the next few years, we are expanding our research programme,hosting more regional and national events, creating public campaigns, and working closely with policymakers. Let us know if you’d like to work with us.
Over the next few years, we are expanding our research programme,hosting more regional and national events, creating public campaigns, and working closely with policymakers. Let us know if you’d like to work with us.
Media inquiries
Media inquiries
Media inquiries
If you're a journalist interested in covering this growing movement or would like to explore the stories behind our work, we welcome your questions and interview requests. Please reach out below or via email.
If you're a journalist interested in covering this growing movement or would like to explore the stories behind our work, we welcome your questions and interview requests. Please reach out below or via email.
If you're a journalist interested in covering this growing movement or would like to explore the stories behind our work, we welcome your questions and interview requests. Please reach out below or via email.
The CfDB is a project of Stir to Action Ltd, a worker co-operative registered in England as a Company Limited by Guarantee. Company number 07951013
Our team is based in Dorset, London, and Manchester
Designed and built by Guillermo Ortego
You can subscribe to our newsletter here
The CfDB is a project of Stir to Action Ltd, a worker co-operative registered in England as a Company Limited by Guarantee. Company number 07951013
Our team is based in Dorset, London, and Manchester
Designed and built by Guillermo Ortego
You can subscribe to our newsletter here
The CfDB is a project of Stir to Action Ltd, a worker co-operative registered in England as a Company Limited by Guarantee. Company number 07951013
Our team is based in Dorset, London, and Manchester
Designed and built by Guillermo Ortego