The Sheila McKechnie Foundation has today (2 August 2023) published Defending our Democratic Space, a report which documents cumulative threats over more than a decade to vital elements of democracy in the United Kingdom that enable people to have a voice, amplify that voice to decision-makers, and help hold politicians to account. The publication of the report was supported by the Funders Initiative for Civil Society who, amongst other funders, also supported the 2022 research which informs the report.

The report is based on discussions with charities and grassroots campaigners, thinktanks, Parliamentarians and others, including people across the political spectrum. It is a vital tool in identifying threats to UK democracy, which include:

• New laws that mean ordinary people wanting to protest peacefully about a new road or library closure may now be put off by the thought of being arrested; or that a teenager feeling they have no choice but to protest about inaction on global warming may face a criminal record that will damage their future career.
• New laws that mean ordinary people wanting to protest peacefully about a new road or library closure may now be put off by the thought of being arrested; or that a teenager feeling they have no choice but to protest about inaction on global warming may face a criminal record that will damage their future career.

The trend of shrinking civic space in the UK reflects what is happening across the globe, state actors are actively curbing rights around freedom of speech, assembly and association as well as democracy. We’re calling on funders to join us in going beyond ‘holding the line’ to actively trying to expand civic space with the organisations and movements they support.  If you’re a funder looking for more resources and support around issues of closing civic space, please get in touch with us fics@global-dialogue.org.