More than a third of Londoners experience loneliness. Londoners’ trust in their neighbourhoods remains weak. And neighbourhood interaction is at its lowest level since records began. Londoners are lacking the social connections that hold communities together.

A lack of affordable spaces sits at the heart of this issue. Affordable pubs, clubs and music venues are becoming harder to find. Those that remain are too expensive for many Londoners. At the same time, cost of living pressures are turning socialising from an everyday part of life into an occasional luxury.

But, there’s an overlooked part of the solution which already exists in communities across London – social clubs.

Social clubs are member-owned, not-for-profit institutions, rooted in their communities. They offer affordable spaces for shared activities – from tea dances and beer festivals, to Pride celebrations, comedy nights and live music.

London is home to more than 70 social clubs, which already provide vital community spaces, with many wanting to do more. Sustained by generations of members and deeply connected to their neighbourhoods, they bring people of all ages and backgrounds together, helping to strengthen community life.

Yet many social clubs face significant challenges. Rising costs, volunteer capacity constraints and pressures from redevelopment threaten the future of these community institutions.

This report written in partnership with Centre for Democratic Business explores the role social clubs play in tackling loneliness, strengthening communities and creating opportunities for social connection.

Through research and engagement with clubs across London, we’ve examine the challenges they face and identified practical ways policymakers, boroughs and other partners can help social clubs thrive and secure their future as one of London’s most valuable forms of community infrastructure.

We are hosting a report launch on Wednesday 21 October, if you want to learn more, share your views, and discuss over a pint, register your interest here. 

Recommendations

Financial Stabilty

• Establish a London-wide grants and advice programme for social clubs.
• Create a dedicated lender directory to help clubs access appropriate finance.
• Commercial lenders, social investment bodies and charitable foundations should develop new financial products for not-for-profit membership clubs.
• Charitable foundations, the Mayor of London and local authorities, with the support of London Councils, should ensure that funding eligibility criteria does not exclude social clubs.
• Council procurement should be opened up to social clubs, to create new income streams for social clubs.

Operations & Capacity

• Build a London-wide performer network to strengthen clubs’ live programming.
• Create work and volunteering pathways for young people through social clubs.
• Recognise and develop social club leaders as a pipeline for community leadership.
• Create a social clubs central network through which clubs can share operational knowledge, access drop-in support, and participate in meetings or social events to learn from one another.

Planning & Redevelopment

• Reach clubs early with advice and support before they reach crisis point.
• Create a coordinated referral network to connect clubs with specialist support.
• Clarify planning protections so clubs can better defend their spaces against developments.
• Expand the GLA’s cultural infrastructure map so it can better support planning decisions.
• Ensure the Agent of Change principle is applied consistently to better protect social clubs from new development.
• Help more social clubs secure Asset of Community Value status.