What is happening in UK Civic Space and What It Means for Civil Society

A vibrant civil society and an open and inclusive civic space are essential for democracy and social change. Earlier this year, the UK government promised to reset the relationship with civil society, respect its independence and legitimacy to campaign and protect the right to protest. Yet it is pressing ahead with yet more anti-protest measures and says it won’t reverse existing laws that are constraining civic space.

We heard Sasha Deshmukh (Amnesty International UK), Sam Grant (Liberty), Shabna Begum (The Runnymede Trust), Suhan Rajkumar (Bates Wells) and Joss Saunders (Oxfam GB) discussing what is happening to civic space, why it matters and how we can work together in solidarity to create a more enabling and inclusive environment for everyone in civil society.

Find our blog from this year here: UK civic space: what is happening? 2024-2025