Across the UK, communities are speaking loudly – but is anyone listening? The recent local elections sent a clear message: people are voting for change (or not voting at all) because they feel unheard and overlooked. When trust breaks down, disillusionment rises, and communities start looking elsewhere for answers.

At Fun Palaces, we’ve been asking communities directly about what they need most through our “Creative Riots” sessions at events around the UK. People crafted miniature cardboard protest banners, held aloft by tiny plasticine figures marching symbolically towards Parliament. These playful yet powerful displays capture urgent, heartfelt demands for real, tangible change.

These messages aren’t isolated demands. They echo each other, calling for real change to be shaped by the communities themselves and supported by systems that serve them. Over the past few years, we’ve gathered hundreds of these mini-banners, each a snapshot of what matters most in local lives.

Together, they reveal recurring themes in what people say their communities need most:

Theme	% of Banners	Highlights from our Banners
Community spaces & power	28%	“More community spaces” “More libraries” “More community co-ops” “More notice boards & more places to meet” “The space is ours -own the space!” “Community spaces that are inclusive, accessible and free or low cost”
Housing & cost of living	15%	“Affordable housing for all ages” “Don’t keep land ‘just in case’” “No more slum landlords” “Safe happy housing” “Poverty matters”
Youth, play & childcare	14%	“Safe places to play outside.” “More help for young families” “More community spaces for teenagers” “Youth voices to the front!” “Safe and creative spaces for young people” “More outdoor spaces for girls”
Equality, voice & inclusion	13%	“Help disabled people influence policy.” “Representation” “Design for disability is design for everyone” “Empathy & Resilience” “Mutual respect” “More English classes (ESOL) for all”
Climate & public space	9%	“Smash the SUVs” “Permanent climate hubs” “Plant more trees!” “Safer roads for walkers and cyclists” “More community gardens!”
Funding & resources	8%	“Core funds for charities” “Community banking hubs” “Fund libraries” “Give communities control of core funding”
Transport & connectivity	5%	“We need rural connections.” “Better transport links” “Fewer cars, more bikes”
Work & skills	4%	“Meaningful work that pays” “Form filling help” “Better career opportunities for young people” “More qualified youth workers” “More ways to develop skills”
Well-being & kindess	4%	“More connection, listening & empathy” “We need sleep!” “More diversity and love” “No more fear” “More kindness”

What clearly emerged was a profound sense of interconnectedness. Despite geographic and demographic differences, communities shared many urgent needs. Themes like affordable and secure housing, accessible community spaces, and meaningful resources and activities for children and teenagers resonated strongly. Equally powerful were calls for sustainability, safety, empathy, and genuine inclusivity. Among these collective voices, the needs of marginalised groups emerged. Calls for greater representation and agency for disabled people, inclusive spaces for minoritised  communities, and dedicated accessible resources for both our youth and elderly people. Some banners voiced very specific but essential concerns, from “Sort out the bins! No more fly tipping” to “Free improvised singing clubs.” These are reminders that what matters most is often local, practical, and rooted in joy as much as survival.

Why this matters

These tiny banners aren’t just cute craft projects, they’re urgent messages from communities who feel pushed to the edges. They reflect a larger, growing chorus across the UK. With the cost of living crisis, rising deprivation, deepening inequality, and years of systemic neglect, many people feel stretched to breaking point. Their frustration is justified.

This isn’t about partisan politics. It’s about dignity, safety, and the basics of a decent life. If we ignore these voices, we risk even deeper fragmentation. But if we listen – truly listen – and act with purpose, we have the chance to rebuild trust, strengthen resilience, and spark real, lasting, community-powered change.

So what can YOU do?

Real change starts locally, with creativity, collective effort, and unapologetic, joyful rebellion. Here are four powerful ways you can get involved right now:

• Create your own Fun Palace! Gather your community to host a free event celebrating creativity, connection, and collective joy. Imagine, dream, create… and make joyful noise about the changes you want to see. Add yourself to our map and join the movement with others across the UK.
• Join the ‘We’re Right Here’ campaign. Support this growing campaign for real community power. Download their toolkit, amplify your community’s voice, and demand that decision-making is handed back to the people who live there. 
• Connect with others. Join (or start your own) Public Living Room or Chatty Cafe scheme in your area. Small, friendly spaces can combat loneliness, build new friendships and spark big conversations.
• Start or join a community garden. Transform a neglected space into a place to grow – food, friendship and local pride. Projects like Incredible Edible show how gardening together can transform communities.

Your voice matters. Your community matters. Join the creative riot… because real change starts in the grassroots.