Devolution: Supporting Grassroots Organisations and Empowering Communities 

The recent rise in attacks targeting Muslim communities highlight the increasingly divisive nature of the current climate in Britain. Between July and October 2025 alone, there were 27 recorded attacks on UK mosques, including the firebombing of a mosque in Peacehaven, Sussex. At the same time, the surge in support for Reform UK, now polling ahead of other parliamentary parties, signals Britain’s alarming drift toward the far-right. This climate has instilled fear among minoritised groups and gravely undermines the cohesion and wellbeing of our communities. 

In the face of such division, it is integral to find ways of bringing communities, and wider society, together. Real change begins at the local level. By empowering grassroots organisations to shape decisions that directly affect their communities, policymaking around public services and local issues becomes more responsive and effective. Crucially, transferring power and resources to communities strengthens social cohesion, fosters dialogue, and builds resilience across society. This approach, known as ‘devolution’, places civil society at the heart of decision-making, ensuring that outcomes genuinely reflect and serve local needs. 

Over the past 15 years, successive economic crises have deepened feelings of isolation and political neglect. Austerity measures have entailed significant cuts to legal aid, youth clubs, and other essential services, while the ongoing cost-of-living crisis has exacerbated these pressures further. Lower income families have been hit the hardest, intensifying frustration with the status quo and eroding trust in mainstream politics. Indeed, support for the two major parties has declined, particularly among white working-class communities in economically disadvantaged areas, who feel abandoned by governments increasingly deemed out of touch with their lived experiences. 

Against this backdrop, right-wing voices have capitalised on widespread social and economic grievances by scapegoating minoritised communities, especially Muslims, migrants, and refugees. Reform UK, led by Nigel Farage, has been particularly prolific in “otherising” these groups. Through advancing a populist “us versus them” narrative, the party consistently frames immigration and multiculturalism as the root causes of national decline, weaponising economic discontent to fuel resentment toward minorities. Its policy proposals, including mass deportations and withdrawal from the European Convention on Human Rights, reinforce this hostile agenda. By diverting attention from deeper structural issues such as austerity and chronic underinvestment in public services, this strategy has seemingly proven effective in expanding the far-right’s political influence. 

To counter this trend, what is needed is an approach rooted in localisation and community building, which restores public services and rebuilds trust in institutions through devolution. By addressing inequalities with bottom-up policies that actively engage grassroots organisations, local communities can be empowered to co-create solutions that tackle pressing challenges and, in turn, overcome feelings of economic and political neglect. 

Charities and grassroots organisations already demonstrate the transformative potential of this model. The latest edition of The Forum, MCF’s annual magazine, showcases how Muslim-led charities are addressing the cost-of-living crisis through initiatives that tackle issues such as poverty, food insecurity, and homelessness. Increasingly, the third sector has become Britain’s ‘fourth emergency service’, stepping in to fill the gaps left by overstretched statutory provisions. These community-led interventions are not only meeting local needs but also fostering unity, cohesion, and building a more resilient, inclusive, and vibrant society. At a time of heightened tensions and divisive rhetoric, this undermines far-right narratives that demonise the very groups delivering these services. 

These organisations continue to face persistent challenges. The recently announced Labour Budget may intensify the financial strain charities are already experiencing, many of which are struggling to meet core operational costs. Yet, despite these constraints, smaller Muslim organisations continue to make lasting differences to their communities. Their resilience and effectiveness underscore not only the vital role these charities play but also, the importance of supporting them. 

As such, it is essential that public bodies recognise the expertise of grassroots organisations, support their work, and collaborate with them when designing services to ensure they are as effective and inclusive as possible. A powerful example is Peace of Mind, a refugee‑led charity in the North East of England that helps asylum seekers and refugees integrate into their new communities. As highlighted in The Forum, the charity has benefitted greatly from strategic partnerships with Gateshead Council, the NHS, and Tyneside Mental Health Services. These collaborations have “expanded its reach and enhanced the quality of its services… [ensuring] clients benefit from robust referral networks, specialist support, and wraparound care tailored to their individual needs.” This demonstrates how grassroots organisations, particularly when backed by public bodies, can deliver meaningful impact in areas where local services are overstretched or absent, building cohesion across diverse communities. Involving these organisations in service provision not only produces tailored solutions to local issues but also alleviates the burden on local authorities with limited resources. 

Ultimately, the rise of hostility and societal division is inseparable from political disillusionment, economic hardship, and the failure to adequately invest in local services. Grassroots initiatives and charities demonstrate that devolution, rooted in meaningful partnerships and community-driven solutions, offers a powerful alternative to narratives of hatred and division. These organisations are not only connecting communities and meeting local needs, but also restoring hope by transforming thousands of lives each day. Their work deserves recognition and active support. MCF therefore calls on public bodies to forge sustained partnerships with civil society organisations. By doing so, we can rebuild trust, strengthen community cohesion, and build a society that thrives on its shared diversity.