When designed well, events can support social bonds, strengthen trust, build our sense of belonging to a place, and boost civic pride.
Building social cohesion through events
At a time when communities feel increasingly divided, it’s easy to think that events only work when everyone already gets on well together. Our work supporting projects in very different communities across the UK shows that events can play a unique role in supporting social cohesion.
When designed well, events can support social bonds, strengthen trust, build our sense of belonging to a place, and boost civic pride. But events which don’t consider the ingredients for cohesion can also add to social divisions and reinforce cliques.
In their national polling, Moments that Make Us Proud, Public First found widespread support for events as a source of national pride across the UK. People of all ages, social grades, and ethnic backgrounds broadly agreed that events made them proud to live in the UK. You can use this polling to show the public support for events in funding applications and business cases.
Read our resources and examples for how events can strengthen communities.
1The Power of Events (Belong)
In their analysis of our learning archive, Belong looked at twenty-eight projects to draw out the events that result in people feeling more connected to their communities and that build social cohesion. They then bought together their findings in an online learning resource aimed at event organisers. It includes step-by-step- guidance on planning an event, and a ‘social value estimator’ app to test how much your event could contribute to social cohesion.
2Seizing The Moment (British Future)
In their report for our Inquiry, British Future looked at how events – especially those around national traditions and heritage – could bridge divides between people and strengthen shared identities. The report looks at how national ceremonies and commemorations like the coronation or the First World War centenary could be used to showcase national diversity, and how national sporting events could provide a bridge to intentional community action. British Future’s Windrush 75 project delved deeper into how this anniversary could be used to bridge ethnic, social and political divides and includes a practical toolkit for practitioners.
3Our Lives, Our Legacy (Springboard Opportunities)
This project commemorating the 25th anniversary of the Belfast Good Friday Agreement brought young people together to reflect on its legacy and their hopes for the future, culminating in an event and exhibition. The NextGen youth group carried out research, study visits, intergenerational dialogue, and training to plan for the event. The co-production approach created a sense of ownership and responsibility but also ensured that the entire project was authentic and had young people at its core.
4Breaking Boundaries (Youth Sport Trust and Sporting Equals)
This project used a shared love of cricket to bring people together and build stronger connections between those from different backgrounds across Barking & Dagenham, Birmingham, Bradford, Manchester and Slough. By organising activities like cricket matches, dance events and wellbeing walks, Breaking Boundaries helped break down barriers between different groups that lived in the same communities in partnership with community organisations, and focusing on safe spaces where local people could connect, learn about each other and even solve common problems together.
5A Conversation: How do events bring people together?
- Listen to snippets from focus groups around the UK conducted as part of our Inquiry into the Power of Events, brought to life with animations from MyPockets.
Different events provide different opportunities and challenges to cohesion. Here are three more examples from our Knowledge Bank to explore:
- Shared Goals: The power of football clubs to connect diverse communities (British Future)
- Moments to Connect: seven events in 2023 that connected people and communities across divides.
- Moment to Movement (Jo Cox Foundation): findings from the Great Get Together events and More In Common campaign on how to turn one-off events into lasting stronger communities.
