- Five community centres across Britain have been listed with a “protest price” of £500 million each to highlight their true value, and call for urgent investment to stop closures
- Over a third rely on shared community spaces for their mental health and wellbeing
- Ahead of World Mental Health Day (10th October), a new campaign from Crown Paints and Mind spotlights the role of shared spaces on the nation’s wellbeing
Watch: Inside Britain’s Most Valuable Buildings
Britain’s Community Spaces Under Threat - Decorator's forum UK
Five centres have been listed for £500 million to showcase their true value, call for urgent investment.
In the lead up to World Mental Health Day (10th October), Crown Paints has listed five community centres with a £500 million price tag on these overlooked mental health lifelines. It comes as a nationwide survey of 2,000 adults revealed that over a third (35%) of Brits say these spaces help them escape loneliness, while 34% say having access to community spaces has a positive impact on their mental health and wellbeing.
The campaign spotlights buildings in regions among the hardest hit by local authority cuts, drawing attention to the real value of the UK’s shared spaces. The warning is clear. Unless the UK unlocks the funding needed for shared spaces at pace, libraries, youth clubs and community halls will disappear, and with them, the beating heart of our communities.
In a bid to get policymakers to recognise the value of shared spaces, the campaign, launched in partnership with mental health charity, Mind, saw listings of the five community centres hijack property websites, feature in classified ads and even popping up in an estate agent’s window for sale.
The study also found that nearly nine in ten (87%) say vibrant community spaces are important, with 41% expressing concerns for future generations if these places disappear altogether.
But the current outlook for community spaces is bleak. Freedom Of Information data shows that local funding has fallen 18% since 20222, and more than 4,000 public buildings3 being sold off every year.
Amanda Bolton, a spokesperson for the campaign at Crown Paints said: “When we talk about mental health, we often overlook the walls that quietly hold us up. These are the spaces where real life happens. The toddler groups, the art classes, and those evening drama clubs. Places that offer comfort, connection and community. By listing them as Britain’s Most Valuable Buildings, we’re shining a light on the everyday spaces that hold our communities – and wellbeing – together.”
Andrew Berrie, Head of Corporate Partnerships at Mind, added: “Community spaces are important for our mental wellbeing. They provide accessible, welcoming places to connect with others and help reduce loneliness, which can have a negative impact on mental health.
“Crown’s research shows the public feel their loss deeply, with many worried about the impact on future generations. Protecting these spaces must be part of the national conversation on mental health.”
As part of the campaign, Crown Paints has launched an online hub with fundraising tips for community centres. This forms part of Crown’s wider Project Possible commitment to supporting communities through the power of paint, with the ambition of donating 50,000 litres of paint or more to support community projects nationwide.
Amanda continued: “From creating more joyful paces through the power of colour, to supporting community regeneration with uplifting murals and paint projects, we’re helping communities to grow and thrive. This campaign builds on our Project Possible commitments, showing how we can play a meaningful part in the places that matter most.”
For more information visit: https://about.crownpaints.com/projectpossible/campaigns.
Case Study Listings – Britain’s Most Valuable Buildings
St Leonard’s Youth & Community Centre, Bootle, Liverpool listed for £500m in Liverpool Echo
A building that has been serving Bootle since the 1800s, now a lifeline in one of the most deprived areas in the UK. Today St Leonard’s Youth & Community Centre is a go-to hub in times of crisis – from floods to food poverty – offering food, advice, classes and care to hundreds each week. Its true value lies not in the size of its hall but in the dignity restored, the crises averted, and the community rebuilt within its walls.
Debbie Shelley, Centre Manager, said: “St Leonard’s has always been more than a building – it’s the place our community turns to when they need connection or support. Listing it as one of Britain’s Most Valuable Buildings is a reminder that the services we provide are priceless to the people who rely on them.”
Loughborough Wellbeing Centre, Loughborough listed for £500m at https://fliq.co.uk/offers/loughborough-wellbeing-centre
Once an unloved gym, now a safe and welcoming hub. Opened in 2022, the Wellbeing Centre has been rebuilt by volunteers and local businesses, transforming it into a place where anyone can find company, confidence and care. From creative cafés to men’s groups and peer support sessions, its true value lies not in the rooms themselves, but in the lives changed within them.
Boomerang Community Centre, Dundee listed for £500m at https://fliq.co.uk/offers/boomerang-community-centre-dundee
This 8,305 sq ft hub has been the beating heart of Stobswell since 1987. Its true value lies in the hot meals shared around its tables, the youth clubs that give young people a safe place to grow, and the support groups that carry people through grief and loneliness. From toddlers learning to bake to a 98-year-old still teaching tea dances, Boomerang shows how belonging is built – through food, friendship and generations coming together under one roof.
Granton:hub, Edinburgh listed for £500m at https://www.gumtree.com/p/property-for-sale/grantonhub-edinburgh/1504285170
Housed in historic Madelvic House, this volunteer-run hub is where culture, memory and community converge. From affordable artist studios to yoga classes and local history archives, it offers opportunities for learning, creativity and connection. Its true value lies not in its rooms, but in the spirit it preserves and the belonging it creates.
Craigrothie Village Hall, Fife listed for £500m at https://www.gumtree.com/p/property-for-sale/craigrothie-village-hall-fife/1504284690
A modest four-room hall, but priceless to the people it serves. For half a century, Craigrothie has been the stage for weddings, ceilidhs, clubs and community suppers. Its walls hold the history of a village, its kitchen fuels friendship over food, and its true value lies in the role it plays as the heartbeat of rural life.
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