Every day, across the UK, ordinary people do extraordinary things for their communities. From sharing meals to tackling loneliness, volunteers and local groups are the quiet force holding society together. However, while their impact is huge, the system meant to support them often gets in the way—treating every organisation as if it were the same, limiting flexibility, and stifling innovation. In this blog, we celebrate the power of community and ask: what would change if we truly valued, trusted, and invested in these groups to do what they do best?
At Community Together CIC, we see the best of people every day. Across the UK, thousands of individuals give their time to help others. They cook meals for those struggling, deliver shopping to neighbours, sit and chat with someone who is lonely, or run activities that bring people together.
This small army of volunteers and community groups is part of what makes our country special. And together with social enterprises and charities, they form a network of support that touches every aspect of our lives.
But here’s the truth: the system that’s supposed to help community groups often ends up holding them back.
The Problem with “One-Size-Fits-All”
Too often, organisations—big or small, formal or informal—are all treated the same. Funders and support bodies put everyone into the same box and hand out the same kind of help. On paper it looks fair. In reality, it causes problems:
- A volunteer-led knitting group gets the same tiny grant as a social enterprise that employs staff, supports volunteers, and serves hundreds of people.
- A community café that feeds people, tackles loneliness, and helps with job skills is told it can only apply for “food poverty” funding.
- A mental health peer group is told it must partner with a larger organisation to get support—losing its independence in the process.
When we box people in like this, we stifle growth, innovation, and choice. Communities miss out on the wide range of support they could have, simply because organisations aren’t allowed to be flexible or think bigger.
Why This Matters for People
Real life isn’t simple. A single mum who’s struggling with debt might also be lonely and need support for her mental health. A man who comes to a community café for a hot meal might also want training to help him back into work.
But when organisations are forced to pick one “category,” people are left running between services—or worse, falling through the cracks.
What Needs to Change
If we really want communities to thrive, we need to:
- Recognise that every organisation is different—and needs different kinds of support.
- Invest in growth and innovation, not just survival.
- Allow groups to support people in all the messy, complicated ways real life demands.
- Value organisations that don’t just deliver services but also create jobs and training.
At Community Together CIC, we know that when organisations are trusted and properly supported, the whole community wins. People get the right help, at the right time, in the right way.
That’s the future we believe in—and it’s what we’ll keep working towards.