Here at Uproute, we have spoken to countless people whose lives were changed by finding the right community at the right time.
Whether through a support group, creative project or local community centre, these spaces often provide the foundations for recovery, wellbeing and belonging.
Yet despite their importance, there is currently no legal requirement for councils to ensure these spaces exist or remain accessible.
Across England, community facilities have closed, funding has been reduced and many organisations now struggle to find affordable places to operate.
More than 1000 youth centres have closed since 2010, and funding has reduced by 73%.
Services that were once pillars of the community are being cut and diluted further to the point where the services rely entirely on volunteers, or there is no longer a service at all.
The NHS now uses social prescribing, referring people to activities such as walking groups, art groups and community activities to improve wellbeing and reduce isolation.
These programmes depend on community spaces being readily available.
This won’t be able to continue if demand and signposting from the NHS increase and funding and accessibility decrease.
That is why Uproute is launching a campaign for a Community Space Access Standard.
The proposal is straightforward:
Every person should have access to a free or low-cost community space within a 15-minute walk of their home, or via accessible public transport.
Under the proposal, councils would be required to assess community space provision, identify gaps in access, protect existing facilities and replace community spaces lost through redevelopment.
We believe community spaces should be treated as essential infrastructure. No one should be left without somewhere to go, connect, recover or rebuild their life.
Read the full Community Space Access Standard below:
