The Independent Commission onCommunity & Cohesion
A once in a generation commission on the future of our communities
The UK is a thriving, multi-ethnic and multi-faith democracy where most people in towns, cities, and rural areas get on with each other. But we are also experiencing challenges to our community and local lives, with fresh expressions of old tensions – and new ones – emerging.
In some cases, this includes a decline in trust between neighbours, declining community connections, a growing sense of isolation and loneliness, or a feeling of not belonging either to the UK as a whole – or to England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.
In other cases, it includes social exclusion, prejudice, hate crimes, extremism, and the emergence of so-called culture wars – sometimes revealing a society in which a shared understanding of the nation is lacking.
Much of the modern story of our country traces back to the post-war years – a moment of profound social change, including the creation of the NHS, the modern welfare state, and Commonwealth immigration.
Now, 80 years on, we find ourselves at a crossroads. We’re faced with generational questions – including how we live well together, and of our vision for the kind of country and the kind of communities we are trying to build. The riots across the country last summer have increased the urgency of answering these questions.
The Independent Commission on Community and Cohesion is a non-partisan, time-limited commission tasked with answering these questions – as we seek to collectively build a more united country where local lives and places are built on people working together; sharing common stories, and building nations, cities, counties and towns where everyone feels able to belong and participate.
The commission will not produce a report from behind closed doors. Instead, we will engage communities across the country in order to understand how to enhance community connectedness, cohesion and resilience, as well as seeking to uncover the shared stories and vision for our communities that can stand the test of time.
The Commission formally begins work in June 2025. Over the next 18 months, we will engage communities across the country to understand how to enhance community connectedness, cohesion and resilience — and to uncover the shared stories and vision that can help shape a more united future.
Our commissioners
The Commission has gained rare cross-party support, and is co-chaired by Sir Sajid Javid and Jon Cruddas. It brings together 20 commissioners from across the UK, spanning politics, academia, faith, civil society, business, youth leadership, and the media. Commissioners met for the first time in June 2025 to mark the start of Phase Two.
The commission has been convened by the Together Coalition, who will act as its secretariat.
Sir Sajid Javid
Jon Cruddas
Lord Bilimoria CBE DL
Crossbench peer, entrepreneur and former President of the CBI; founder of Cobra Beer and former Chancellor of the University of Birmingham
Professor Luke Bretherton
Regius Professor of Moral and Pastoral Theology, University of Oxford, and Director of the McDonald Centre for Theology, Ethics and Public Life
Samuel Coates
Former government advisor, policy strategist, and Project Director of the ‘Pillars of the Community’ Report
David Halpern CBE
President Emeritus of the Behavioural Insights Team
Professor Jagbir Jhutti-Johal OBE
Professor of Sikh Studies at the University of Birmingham; expert on faith, interfaith dialogue, and public policy
Sunder Katwala
Director, British Future
Professor Javed Khan OBE
Managing Director of the think tank Equi; former CEO of Barnardo’s and Victim Support; independent adviser to government and non-executive board member
Dame Sara Khan
Former Counter-extremism Commissioner; former independent Government Adviser on social cohesion and resilience
Caroline Lucas
Former Leader and Co-Leader of the Green Party of England and Wales; author, campaigner and Co-President of the European Movement
Laura Marks CBE
Chair of the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust; founder of Mitzvah Day and Nisa-Nashim, and co-founder of the Women’s Faith Forum
Ruth Marks CBE
Former CEO of Wales Council for Voluntary Action and first Older People’s Commissioner for Wales
Lord Mendelsohn
Labour peer and business leader
Tim Montgomerie
Political commentator and founder of ConservativeHome
Dr Chaand Nagpaul CBE
Former Chair of the British Medical Association
Fraser Nelson
Columnist for The Times and former Editor of The Spectator
Ndidi Okezie OBE
NED Southbank Centre; former Education Executive and Youth Sector CEO
Eva Omaghomi CVO PhD
Founder of Forster Jones & Associates, Community Engagement Advisor to The Royal Household
Professor Jane Robinson DL
Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Engagement and Place, Newcastle University; Chair of CBI North East Council
Sir Andy Street CBE
Former Mayor of the West Midlands and former Managing Director of John Lewis; Chair of Birmingham Repertory Theatre
Lord Woolley of Woodford
Principal of Homerton College, University of Cambridge and founder of Operation Black Vote
Our approach
The Independent Commission on Community and Cohesion brings together leading voices from across the UK to explore what’s driving disconnection and division — and what needs to change to help build stronger, more connected communities.
Its work combines two core strands: a UK-wide national conversation to hear directly from the public, and a programme of commissioner meetings to explore key challenges and shape practical responses.
Phase One
Building our foundations
(early 2025 – July 2025)
In this initial phase, we worked with British Future and Belong to build the Commission’s early evidence base. We gathered insights through nationally representative polling, public focus groups, expert roundtables, and an open call for evidence — which received over 100 submissions. This work will be published in the Foundations Report in July 2025 and will shape the focus of both public engagement and commissioner deliberation going forward.
Phase Two
National conversation and commissioner engagement
(June 2025 – Autumn 2026)
Phase Two brings together two interdependent strands of work:
- A UK-wide national conversation launching in Autumn 2025 — designed to hear directly from people across the country about how they experience connection and belonging, and what they want to see change.
- A structured programme of commissioner meetings launching in June 2025, drawing on insights from Phase One and the national conversation once started, to explore key themes in greater depth and shape practical recommendations.
Our aim is to develop a shared vision and practical roadmap for strengthening cohesion — grounded in public insight, and shaped by a diverse group of commissioners from across politics, civil society, business, faith, academia, media and more.
Phase Three
Implementation and impact
(Autumn 2026 onwards)
Implementation, advocacy, and long-term impact — translating the Commission’s vision into local and national agendas for change.
Help us start the national conversation for phase 2
In autumn 2025, the Commission will launch a UK-wide national conversation — inviting people from every part of the country to share their experiences of connection, trust and belonging.
We want to hear from as many people as possible — including individuals, community groups, and organisations — about what helps people feel connected, what gets in the way, and what they’d like to see change.
There will be lots of ways to take part — including sharing your views online, hosting or joining local conversations, or helping us reach others in your community. Whether you’re part of a school, youth group, library, faith space, local authority or grassroots charity, we’d love to work with you.
If you’re interested in being part of the national conversation — or helping others take part — complete the form below and we’ll keep in touch as our plans develop.