The Guardian view on hope: with your help, charities can help to repair the social fabric
Austerity, cost of living pressures, and underinvestment have damaged the physical and social fabric of some UK towns more than others.
The Guardian charity appeal aims to counter rising far-right, anti-migrant, and extremist politics by strengthening real-life community ties.
Polarisation is linked to digital capitalism and attention economics; cohesion increases when people build bridges in real life.
Locality advocates on behalf of 2,000 local organisations to protect grassroots initiatives from crowding-out by larger bodies.
Back on the Map, a community housing provider in Sunderland, regenerates a declining area for residents rather than developers.
Citizens UK will train organisers to harness community power for local projects.
Hope Unlimited Charitable Trust provides grants to groups countering division and hostility to migrants and replacing grievance with hope.
The Linking Network and Who is Your Neighbour? work to tackle divisions among children and promote dialogue.
The Guardian charity appeal has raised more than a3500,000; donations are encouraged via the Guardian donation link.
Charities are not a substitute for democratically accountable politicians and services; reform of local government finance is needed due to central government failures on social care and SEND.
