Community cohesion Disabled people Sport and physical activity Wellbeing
Legacy Learning Partnerships
London Nationwide
Belong: Power Of Events
Research & Learning
A report from Belong on the findings from the Spirit of 2012 archive about the impact of events on social cohesion and connection
Spirit of 2012 funded over 230 projects between 2013-2023 including a wide variety of events. The events in the archive cut across arts and culture, sport and physical activity, and volunteering, and are an important source of data about how many of these events have created a lasting impact for people and places across the UK. Spirit also funded research into different aspects of their grant-making strategy.
This report, written by Dr. Jeni Vine & Dr. Marion Oveson at Belong Network, synthesises learning from Spirit’s archive and other relevant literature to encourage and support event organisers to maximise their benefits to social cohesion and connection. Twenty-eight projects were selected from the extensive archive for the learning they provide on what makes an event that results in people feeling more connected to their communities and that builds social cohesion.