Hundreds of grassroots organisations working to unite communities across England have been awarded a share of more than £2 million in government funding, following the announcement of the latest Common Ground Awards.
In total, 211 community organisations around the country have received funding in recognition of their work to break down social barriers, strengthen trust, and create opportunities for people from different backgrounds to connect and thrive.
The Common Ground Fund is designed to support the local organisations best placed to counter the pressures pulling communities apart, including:
- Declining trust and social isolation
- Rising cost‑of‑living pressures
- Attempts by bad actors to exploit divisions
Funding will enable recipients to reach more people, improve facilities, and launch new initiatives that bring communities together through shared activities and welcoming spaces.
Awards will support a wide range of practical, community-led activities, including:
- Upgrading community hubs and civic spaces
- Purchasing accessible minibuses
- Creating year‑round venues for activities such as cooking, cycling, gardening, and sport
By investing directly in local infrastructure and initiatives, the programme aims to create more opportunities for meaningful, everyday connections.
The Common Ground Fund complements the government’s wider Pride in Place programme, which is investing £5.8 billion in 284 neighbourhoods across the UK to help local people direct funding towards what matters most to them.
Together, the two programmes support the ambitions of the government’s Protecting What Matters strategy, focused on reinforcing shared values and building cohesive, confident, and trusting communities.
Several organisations received awards of £28,472, reflecting the ambition and impact of their proposals. These include:
- Vox Feminarum Women’s Voices, Derby
- Maxtrax, Openshaw, Manchester
- Accrington Stanley Football in the Community Trust, East Lancashire
- Courtside Hubs CIC
The breadth of funded projects reflects the many ways communities across England are responding to shared challenges with creativity, resilience, and collaboration.
Miatta Fahnbulleh, 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.”
By backing local people to lead change in their own neighbourhoods, the Common Ground Fund aims to strengthen social bonds, improve wellbeing and ensure communities remain places where people from all backgrounds can belong.
Image credit: iStock
