The National Conversation is an opportunity for everyone to have their say about the opportunities and challenges in their communities as it relates to cohesion. It has been launched by the Independent Commission on Community and Cohesion. This is a non-partisan, time-limited commission tasked with uncovering vision that can help shape a more united future for the country.
The Commission wants to hear from churches because it knows that they are on the frontline of community life. We see the pressures on families and young people, the impact of economic insecurity and cultural change, the tensions and misunderstandings between different groups — and the deep desire many people still have for belonging, meaning and hope. As trusted places where people of all backgrounds come together, churches have a view of connection and division like no other.
How to take part
Your church or Churches Together group can participate in The National Conversation in two ways.
Invite your congregation and people in your networks to fill in a short online survey designed and run independently by Nuffield College, University of Oxford.
Follow this link (this is a special link for churches, other sectors have different links) The should take around 10 minutes.
Or you could host a community conversation. This would involve brining people together for a short, guided discussion about what connects and divides us. The National Conversation provides the guide, discussion prompts and a simple way to feed back.
This is a great opportunity for churches to draw on their relationships within local communities and convene people across difference, helping to shape the conversation about the kind of country we want to be.
Both the survey and the feedback from the community conversations need to be submitted by 31 August 2026.
Findings will inform an independent report, published at the end of 2026, with recommendations for government, public service providers, businesses and civil society organisations and the church.