UK communities are facing a growing crisis. Although Sport England reports that 30 million adults are active each week, many community groups are struggling to survive because they cannot find suitable spaces to meet.
With around one in four adults experiencing loneliness, the gap between demand for social connection and the availability of accessible community space is widening rapidly.
But a solution may already exist within the unused or under‑utilised spaces in schools, and Vivify, a tech‑for‑good platform, is helping drive a movement for positive social change.
“Right now, more than 40% of community sports and activity facilities are locked behind school gates outside of the school day, and that’s a huge missed opportunity. Our mission is simple: to make it easier for people to be active, creative and connected in their own communities. By working closely with schools and trusted partners like Sport England and UKactive, we’re helping unlock those spaces so grassroots sport and community activity can really thrive. When facilities are accessible locally, it becomes far easier for people to turn good intentions into lasting habits.”
Russell Teale, Co-founder and CEO of Vivify
School halls, classrooms and pitches sit in the heart of almost every neighbourhood, but many remain locked once the school day ends. Vivify has already opened more than 700 school facilities after hours, giving communities safe, local and affordable places to meet, move and connect, while helping schools generate vital income.
That positive impact is already being felt across communities and is being fed back by Vivify Community Hosts, who are responsible for opening and closing schools across the UK on evenings, weekends and school holidays.
Syed Miah, the Community Host at Harris Academy Greenwich, comments,
“At the start of the year, people are full of good intentions, but without accessible local spaces, it can be hard to keep things going. By managing school facilities through Vivify, we help turn those intentions into regular activities. Whether it’s football, fitness, music or drama, it’s great to see people coming back week after week and really making the space their own.”
Access to group activity is now understood as a health intervention, not a luxury and that is something this is helping with and is echoed in a study from Newcastle University and University College London, that states increasing social engagement can even reverse frailty, while loneliness accelerates it.
“This time of year, you really feel the buzz in local communities. People want to try new sports, start a hobby or just get together regularly. As a Vivify Community Host, I help make sure school spaces are open and ready for that. Once the doors are open, it is brilliant to see groups settling in and the facilities being used in ways that really benefit the community.”
Holly O’Connell, Community Host at Rockwood Academy in Birmingham
This isn’t just about filling school halls; it’s about restoring schools to their role as the heartbeats of the community. As these spaces come alive with local groups and activities, they’re fostering connection and purpose, while also generating the vital income that is so needed by schools right across the country.
“A lot of school facilities would sit empty outside of the school day, even though there is loads of interest locally. My role as a Vivify Community Host is to manage those spaces and make them easy and welcoming for community groups to use. Seeing the lights on in the evenings and weekends, with teams and groups, seeing smiles on their faces and enjoying the space, makes it all worthwhile.”
Gabrielle Nolan, Community Host at Audenshaw School and Marple Hall School in Greater Manchester
Find out more at: www.vivifyvenues.com
