“Where People Meet”
4th September 2025
“Where People Meet”
New Local are an independent think tank and network who are seeking to transform public services and unlock community power. They’ve recently published a report “Where People Meet”, highlighting the role of community buildings as “core and enduring part of the UK’s social infrastructure”. The report argues that they are “hubs of social connection, stewards of health and wellbeing, vital partners in their local ecosystems and important physical assets that communities can depend on”. The report goes on to summarise the strengths of community buildings, the challenges they face and what can be done to overcome them. You can read the report here, on the New Local website.
Here at ACT, we believe that Community Buildings, Village Halls and other assets owned by the community such as playing fields, are at the very heart of our communities. ACT supports the volunteers who manage these facilities through our free Community Buildings Service.
We also have a Statement of Principles on community buildings.
This report from New Local completely supports our experience that community buildings are often at the heart of our communities.