Over the last six months, the Centre for Democratic Business has been working with the Co-operative Party and its MPs on a programme to protect and revitalise Britain’s social clubs. So far, this collaboration has launched a national engagement process aimed at creating a 21st Century Club Charter, set to be presented to the government this summer. In September, we are also hosting a one-day conference bringing together clubs, policymakers, charities, and funders to explore how both existing and new social clubs can respond to today’s urgent social and economic challenges.

As part of this wider programme, the Centre recently published a new report titled Social Clubs, Community Power, and Political Participation. This report examines the evolving role of social clubs in British civil society and politics. Since their emergence in the mid-19th century, social clubs have operated as member-led, not-for-profit institutions offering recreational activities, political education, and opportunities for civic involvement. Historically, they were crucial to working-class communities in the industrial age and the formative years of mass democracy, acting as hubs of political debate, mutual aid, and associational life.

These clubs also played a formative role in fostering political literacy and participation through lectures, lending libraries, and self-organised learning groups. By the early 20th century, they had become influential centres of political representation – at one time, club members comprised nearly a third of MPs in Parliament. This legacy highlights how social clubs have functioned as democratic training grounds and points to a gap in today’s civic infrastructure.

In recent decades, however, many social clubs have struggled to survive due to financial pressures, demographic shifts, and waning participation in community-led governance. Nonetheless, some have successfully adapted to changing social dynamics by becoming spaces for LGBTQ+ communities, launching cultural and arts programmes, and appealing to younger generations. These innovations show that while the traditional model of social clubs may have declined, the underlying principles of collective action and mutual ownership remain deeply relevant.

The report positions social clubs as part of the solution to the UK’s mounting ‘connection crisis’. In an era marked by political alienation and social fragmentation, clubs offer grounded, face-to-face environments for building trust and civic engagement. Unlike online organising networks, social clubs facilitate deeper, more personal relationships between organisers and participants, fostering a more robust form of democratic interaction. The report argues that with adequate support, these clubs can become vital partners for public institutions in strengthening local democracy and delivering community-based services.

Moreover, local governments and civil society organisations can use these venues for political events, community consultations, and local service delivery. Financial investment and business development initiatives will be essential to revitalise social clubs – modernising their infrastructure, expanding their membership base, and providing the governance training needed to support their democratic potential.

In conclusion, the report argues that social clubs should be recognised as key enablers of democratic life, as they provide platforms for ordinary people to engage with political issues, from local matters to national debates. The legacy of democratic governance and political education embedded in these institutions offers a powerful opportunity to reinvigorate our civic culture. With the right support, social clubs can help rebuild public trust in political institutions and revive the participatory spirit at the heart of popular democracy. To read the full report, click here.

About Author: Jonny Gordon-Farleigh is the co-lead of the Centre for Democratic Business, an organisation committed to advancing democracy in our workplaces and communities through partnerships with local and national government, industry bodies, membership associations, and foundations.