A group of women with gardening tools pose by a large wooden planter on a town street.
'Greening The Streets' project supported by Historic England with local volunteers and their recently planted bed at Alexandra Parade, Weston-super-Mare, Somerset. © Historic England Archive. Image reference DP437955
'Greening The Streets' project supported by Historic England with local volunteers and their recently planted bed at Alexandra Parade, Weston-super-Mare, Somerset. © Historic England Archive. Image reference DP437955

How to Find Local Community Organisations

This advice is for anyone interested in finding community-based organisations to explore opportunities for co-production, ensure comprehensive consultation or to inform stakeholder mapping. On this page, we outline some of the ways you can identify community-based organisations both inside and outside of the heritage sector.

We have split the advice based on whether you are searching for community organisations and groups from inside or outside of the area but please note that you might find helpful ideas in both sections whatever your project.

On this page
  1. If you are seeking information on community organisations and groups from outside of the area
  2. If you are seeking information on community organisations and groups in your local area

If you are seeking information on community organisations and groups from outside of the area

Most local councils have websites that list community groups, organisations and events. Search for the "Community" or "What's On" section on your council's website.

Councils often have directories of local community groups, volunteer opportunities, and social activities. It is also possible to search for education providers on Local Council websites. Alternatively, you can access information on local education providers using the 'Get Information About Schools' search on the Government website.

The Gov.UK website defines a Community Interest Company as
"a limited company… created for the use of people who want to conduct a business or other activity for community benefit".

A list of local Community Interest Companies by county can be downloaded as a CSV file using the Companies House website’s advance search function. Enter the county you are working in under ‘Registered Address’ and filter for CIC’s under ‘Company Subtype’. The resulting CSV file can be filtered for active companies in your county. Please bear in mind that this method will only bring up companies whose registered business address is based in your county. You will need to perform this search for each county you are working in if your project spans multiple counties.

Websites like:

can help you find local volunteer opportunities, which are often linked to community groups.

You can use:

Many sports clubs are run by their local communities. On the BBC website you can find Get Inspired's comprehensive list of club finders for different sports and activities in local areas.

On the Youth United Foundations website you can access their networks page which signposts all of the uniformed youth organisations in the UK many of which allow you to search for local groups. Please bear in mind that organisations working with young people may have safeguarding reasons for preventing location searches.

UK Community Foundations: national membership organisation for accredited community foundations around the UK.

If you are seeking information on community organisations and groups in your local area

Local newspapers, both online and in print, often feature sections dedicated to community news and events. Free local magazines distributed in the area might have listings of local groups, clubs, and activities.

Libraries and community centres often have noticeboards with information about local groups and events. Staff at these locations may also be able to help you find what you’re looking for.

Religious institutions often host or know of various community groups and can provide information on activities and social groups in your area, even if you are not a member of that faith.

Join local community Facebook groups or search for events happening in your area. Many community groups and organisations use Facebook to share information and organise activities.

By attending local events like fairs, markets, or festivals, you might meet people involved in community groups. These events can be a great opportunity to learn about local initiatives and activities.

Sometimes the best way to find local groups is by talking to neighbours, co-workers, or friends who live in the area. They may know of groups or activities that aren’t widely advertised.

Check out noticeboards in local cafés, shops, or post offices, as they often have flyers and information about local community activities and groups.