Back Our Social Clubs: A New Report Calling for a 21st Century Club Charter
Published by the Centre for Democratic Business
Published by the Centre for Democratic Business
September 2025
September 2025
Britain’s social clubs are among our most enduring yet overlooked institutions. For more than 150 years, they have offered spaces where people organise, socialise, and support one another. But today, many face closure due to fragile finances, lack of training and advice, and limited access to funding.
Britain’s social clubs are among our most enduring yet overlooked institutions. For more than 150 years, they have offered spaces where people organise, socialise, and support one another. But today, many face closure due to fragile finances, lack of training and advice, and limited access to funding.
Britain’s social clubs are among our most enduring yet overlooked institutions. For more than 150 years, they have offered spaces where people organise, socialise, and support one another. But today, many face closure due to fragile finances, lack of training and advice, and limited access to funding.
This new report – part of a national programme – sets out the urgent case for government, funders, and the third sector to back our clubs. At its heart is a call for the government to work in partnerships with clubs to create a 21st Century Social Club Charter – a shared framework of recognition, support, and investment to secure the future of clubs.
This new report – part of a national programme – sets out the urgent case for government, funders, and the third sector to back our clubs. At its heart is a call for the government to work in partnerships with clubs to create a 21st Century Social Club Charter – a shared framework of recognition, support, and investment to secure the future of clubs.
This new report – part of a national programme – sets out the urgent case for government, funders, and the third sector to back our clubs. At its heart is a call for the government to work in partnerships with clubs to create a 21st Century Social Club Charter – a shared framework of recognition, support, and investment to secure the future of clubs.
Key Themes
Key Themes
Key Themes
Social clubs matter because they are inclusive, affordable, and member-owned spaces for connection, culture, and civic life.
Social clubs matter because they are inclusive, affordable, and member-owned spaces for connection, culture, and civic life.
Social clubs matter because they are inclusive, affordable, and member-owned spaces for connection, culture, and civic life.
The challenges they face are underfunding, lack of volunteers, and policy neglect.
The challenges they face are underfunding, lack of volunteers, and policy neglect.
The challenges they face are underfunding, lack of volunteers, and policy neglect.
Clubs are asking for targeted training, fair funding, and recognition as community assets.
Clubs are asking for targeted training, fair funding, and recognition as community assets.
Clubs are asking for targeted training, fair funding, and recognition as community assets.
Our main recommendation is for the government to create a taskforce to co-create a 21st Century Social Club Charter.
Our main recommendation is for the government to create a taskforce to co-create a 21st Century Social Club Charter.
Our main recommendation is for the government to create a taskforce to co-create a 21st Century Social Club Charter.
Contents
Contents
Contents
Preface
Preface
Preface
Kirsty McNeil, Scottish Labour and Co-operative MP for Midlothian.
Kirsty McNeil, Scottish Labour and Co-operative MP for Midlothian.
Kirsty McNeil, Scottish Labour and Co-operative MP for Midlothian.
Introduction
Introduction
Introduction
Jonny Gordon-Farleigh, Centre for Democratic Business.
Jonny Gordon-Farleigh, Centre for Democratic Business.
Jonny Gordon-Farleigh, Centre for Democratic Business.
The Purpose of Social Clubs
The Purpose of Social Clubs
The Purpose of Social Clubs
Connection, wellbeing, and civic participation.
Connection, wellbeing, and civic participation.
Connection, wellbeing, and civic participation.
What Support Clubs Need
What Support Clubs Need
What Support Clubs Need
Training and funding.
Training and funding.
Training and funding.
How Government Can Help
How Government Can Help
How Government Can Help
The case for a Social Club Charter.
The case for a Social Club Charter.
The case for a Social Club Charter.
Full Report
Full Report
Full Report
To access and download the full report in PDF format please fill in the form below:
To access and download the full report in PDF format please fill in the form below:
To access and download the full report in PDF format please fill in the form below:
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