The State of Us: community strength and cohesion in the UK

This new report from British Future and the Belong Network describes a combination of social tensions and grievances – including polarisation and division, concerns about asylum and immigration, declining political trust, economic pessimism and worries about the impact of social media. The authors warn that unrest risks being reignited unless urgent action is taken.

They also identify some strong foundations on which to build, including public confidence in cohesion at neighbourhood level and numerous examples of impactful work across the UK to empower communities, build shared identities and strengthen relationships between people from different backgrounds.

The report is a foundational input to the new Independent Commission on Community and Cohesion, chaired by Sir Sajid Javid and Jon Cruddas, which convened for the first time in June 2025.