Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Community Spaces

Thursday 16 April 2026 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The Government recognizes the importance of community spaces for social networks, community participation, and civic pride.
  • The charity St John's Winchester runs a community space for people with dementia and provides almshouses for vulnerable people, having been in operation for 900 years.
  • The Minister expressed willingness to discuss the challenges faced by charities with the hon Gentleman.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Danny Chambers Lib Dem Winchester
Community Security
Context

The issue of adequacy in access to community spaces, which are vital for social networks and civic pride.

Question

What assessment has the Government made of the adequacy of access to community spaces?

Answer from Stephanie Peacock

The Government recognise that community spaces are hugely important, whether it be for social networks, community participation or civic pride. We debated community centres and small charities in Westminster Hall last month.

Partly answered

Not addressed: No specific assessment of adequacy was provided, only general recognition of importance.

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Q2 Danny Chambers Lib Dem Winchester
NHS Social Care
Context

The charity St John's Winchester, which runs a community space for people with dementia and has been operating for 900 years, faces challenges due to increased employment costs leading to its deregistration from the Care Quality Commission. The questioner raises concerns about the financial burden on councils and NHS if such charities struggle.

Question

The charity St John's Winchester runs a brilliant community space for people with dementia; I have attended it myself and sung songs with them, including Motown. It is also one of the oldest charities in the UK and provides almshouses for vulnerable people. It has been running for 900 years and has survived the plague and the civil war, which was particularly ferocious in Winchester. It has specifically cited the increase in employment costs as a reason why it has had to deregister from the Care Quality Commission. What are the Government doing to support charities that provide social care and healthcare? We know that if these charities struggle, the costs will go on to councils and the NHS.

Answer from Stephanie Peacock

I join the hon. Gentleman in paying tribute to his local charity—indeed, I am a patron of a dementia charity in Barnsley. I recognise the challenges faced by charities, which is why I hosted a number of them at No. 10 with a Treasury Minister. I would be delighted to speak to the hon. Gentleman about this matter.

Partly answered

Not addressed: No specific support measures were outlined; only general recognition and offer for further discussion was provided.

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