Despite the clear benefits of community spaces on the mental health of those who access them, the investment in them from the government is slowing year by year.
Between 2011 and 2021, the country saw a reduction of almost 650 million in funding for youth services. This is unacceptable.
Young people are disproportionately affected by the decline in community spaces. An estimated 33% of people aged 16-29 report feeling lonely “often, always or some of the time” according to the Office of National Statistics.
Without easily accessible community spaces, the most vulnerable people in Britain risk isolation.
At Uproute, we are launching a petition calling on the government to introduce a simple law- every resident must have access to a free or low-cost community space within a 15-minute walk (approximately one mile) of their home, or via accessible public transport.
According to a 2025 study, 81% of people say a community space is important for improving social connections with others, and 78% say it contributes to a sense of belonging. The demand is there and, at Uproute, we are going to demonstrate this demand to the government.
Below is our Community Space Access Standard, providing a framework for the change we want to see to improve the lives of everyone across the country. It outlines our justification for this petition in great detail and has informed the change we want to see from our petition.
Sign our petition, pledge your support, demand change.
