More than a third of adults feel there aren’t enough community spaces in their local area.<br /><br /> A poll of 2,000 people found 22 per cent have noticed a decline in shared areas such as halls and centres in the past decade.<br /><br />But 81 per cent believe community centres are vital for improving connections with others.<br /> <br />While 78 per cent think they contribute to a sense of wellbeing, and 72 per cent believe they are key for their overall physical health.<br /> <br />The research, commissioned by Crown Paints, follows a Freedom of Information request which found government funding for public social spaces has dropped by a fifth in the past two years.<br /> <br />The data from 96 local authorities found spending on community-related services and provisions has fallen by 18 per cent between 2022 and 2024.
