Member

These places are not just buildings; they are the foundations of our society and our communities. That is the point I want to make most clearly today. When we talk about supporting voluntary groups, we also have to talk about supporting the places that make them possible and make them work. A food project needs storage, a kitchen and somewhere welcoming to meet people; a counselling group needs a safe and confidential space; a theatre group needs a stage and rehearsal room; and a litter-picking group or local history society needs somewhere to organise and bring people together. If the building goes, a huge amount of social value goes with it.