Building stronger communities in post-pandemic Britain - A report by the All Party Parliamentary Group on Social Integration

The inquiry requested evidence of how the positive changes experienced in social connection and community action might be sustained into the future, in particular through ensuring the continuation of business support and engagement and in sustaining the involvement of volunteers. [...] In each section – on volunteering and on business – the report draws conclusions and makes a series of policy recommendations for government, business and civil society, to help ensure that the lessons of the pandemic are acted on as the UK recovers, with the aim of a lasting legacy of increased social connection. [...] Most of those who volunteered for the first time during the pandemic wish to continue getting involved in their community in the long-term.37 But there is work to do to successfully capture this energy and to harness the potential of volunteering to build closer, more integrated communities. [...] He referred to the FSB report ‘Small Business, Big Heart’ published in 2019, which highlighted the contribution of small businesses to local communities.43 The charity Belong44 is working in partnership with the Intercultural Cities UK Network to explore how businesses can help contribute to social cohesion in more normal times.45 The aim of the project, which involves the localities of Bradford,. [...] Evidence from the inquiry suggests that businesses, charities and voluntary organisations need to work together to plan the types of volunteering that best supports communities and facilitates social integration: this includes the skills needed, the allocation of time and the frequency of volunteering activities.