At Eastside Community Trust, we know first-hand the power and potential of community centres. Easton Community Centre sits at the heart of our work in East Bristol. It is a vibrant, welcoming place where people come together to learn, celebrate, access support, and feel a sense of belonging. That’s why we are proud to support and amplify the findings of the recent national report Where People Meet: How We Celebrate, Sustain and Reimagine Community Centres by New Local and Raynes Foundation, which sets out a compelling vision for the future of community centres across the UK.

Across the country, there are around 21,000 community centres and halls playing a profound role in everyday life. They are places where relationships grow, health is supported, and neighbourhoods thrive. Yet, as the report outlines, these vital spaces are under increasing strain, from unsustainable funding to rising building costs and undervalued staff and volunteers.

“Community centres like Easton Community Centre are not a ‘nice-to-have’ but absolutely essential. They are places of connection, safety, creativity and support. We need long-term investment, not just to keep the doors open, but to truly unlock the full potential of these spaces for future generations.”
— Stacy Yelland, CEO, Eastside Community Trust

Foundations of Community Life

The report highlights how the loss of accessible, local spaces to gather has measurable consequences, such as increased social isolation, declining mental health, and reduced civic participation. In deprived areas, where such spaces are often most needed, their absence only deepens inequality. But it also shows the flipside: where centres exist and are supported, they anchor communities, foster connection and improve wellbeing.

At Easton Community Centre, for example, we see this every day. From our community Ethiopian food café and youth sessions to adult learning courses and social prescribing partnerships, our centre acts as a trusted hub that bridges services, builds relationships and reflects the diverse community we serve.

The Challenges and Solutions

The report outlines six key challenges that community centres face, from inflexible funding models to a lack of sector-wide voice. Yet it also identifies four powerful strengths – community centres as connectors, health enablers, collaborators in local ecosystems, and proud physical assets.

Crucially, the report offers a bold, shared vision for the year 2040: community centres that are financially secure, environmentally sustainable, inclusive and integral to local decision-making. To achieve this, the report calls for:

• A new, pooled fund for community centres with long-term capital and revenue support

• Recognition of centres as strategic partners in public health, regeneration and neighbourhood planning

• Strengthened rights for communities to own and steward local assets

• Funding and policies that reflect the true value of community centres beyond standard metrics

What This Means for East Bristol

This report is a reminder that what happens on a national level has direct consequences on local lives. We know that East Bristol is rich in creativity, connection and community spirit, but we also know the barriers people face in accessing opportunity. Community centres are one of the most powerful tools we have to address this.

Whether it’s tackling loneliness through our weekly coffee mornings, supporting young people through after-school sessions, or working with local partners on health and wellbeing, the work happening within the walls of Easton Community Centre is deeply aligned with the report’s vision.

As national conversations around neighbourhoods, devolution, regeneration and health evolve, we urge policymakers, funders and partners to recognise and champion community centres as essential social infrastructure. The time to act is now, not just to preserve what we have, but to build something even better for the future.

We invite you to read the Where People Meet report, share its insights, and join the growing movement to sustain, celebrate and reimagine the places where community happens.

For media enquiries or to find out more about how to support Easton Community Centre, please contact marcus@upourstreet.org.uk