Hundreds of grassroots organisations working to unite communities
across England have been awarded a share of over £2m in
government funding announced today.
The 211 recipients of the Common Ground Award across England -
stretching from Portsmouth to Newcastle - were selected for their
work breaking down barriers and creating the opportunities for
people from different backgrounds to connect, build trust and
find common ground.
The investment backs the local organisations best placed to
counter the forces pulling communities apart - from bad actors
who seek to exploit divisions and declining trust to social
isolation and the challenges of the rising cost of living.
Funding will help organisations reach more members of their
community, improve facilities and launch new initiatives to
provide even more opportunities for people to come together.
Awards will support a wide range of activity - from upgrading
welcoming civic spaces and community hubs, to purchasing
accessible minibuses and creating year-round venues for cooking,
cycling, gardening and sport.
Backing local people to lead the change they need in their
communities is also at the heart of the government's Pride in
Place programme, which is providing £5.8bn to 284 neighbourhoods
up and down the UK to invest in what matters most to them.
Together, Pride in Place and the Common Ground Fund also feed
into the ambitions of the government's Protecting What Matters
strategy, designed to reinforce the values that unite our
country, and support in shaping more cohesive, trusting and
united communities.
Minister for Communities, , said:
I've seen first-hand the extraordinary work being done up and
down the country to bring people together - creating spaces where
new friendships form and communities grow stronger.
This funding backs those organisations to keep doing what they do
best: building the bridges that help people find their common
ground, forge new bonds, and make their communities more
resilient as a result.
Maff Potts, Director of Camerados, said:
Thanks to Common Ground we can drive our Camerados' van again and
put Public Living Rooms on pavements to inspire communities to
run their own, bringing people together across divisions on a
sofa, no agenda just the life-changing power of a bit of company.
The recipients reflect the remarkable variety of ways communities
across England are coming together, with a handful of
organisations receiving £28,472 owing to the level of ambition in
their proposals and the significant impact they will have for
their communities. These include:
- Vox Feminarum Women's Voices in Derby has brought nearly
3,000 women together across socio-economic, religious and
cultural boundaries through creative workshops, women's history
projects and a community food and clothing bank. 87% reported a
greater sense of belonging and 75% formed new friendships. They
will use funding to help upgrade their civic space to make it
more accessible and welcoming for all.
- At Maxtrax, Openshaw, Manchester, in one of England's most
deprived wards, cycling, bike recycling and multicultural
festivals unite over 1,200 residents each year across ethnic and
faith divides. Funding will transform their community hub into a
year-round space, helping to double participation and deepen
connections.
- Accrington Stanley Football in the Community Trust, Hyndburn
and East Lancashire reaches over 20,000 people a year
through inclusive football, disability sport and mental health
programmes, with 85% of attendees reporting greater confidence
and wellbeing. Funding will provide an accessible community
minibus to help even more people take part.
- Further afield, Courtside Hubs CIC is among the
recipients creating inclusive community spaces across 35 parks
from Sheffield to Southampton - generating over 1.5 million
participation hours and proving that the simple offer of
somewhere welcoming to go can be transformative.
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