Through the tireless efforts of our grantee community, the UK Democracy Fund estimates that together we helped register 750,000 voters ahead of the 2024 General Election.
Grantees led campaigns in schools and universities, created youth-led content on social media, ran workshops in mosques and churches, and engaged migrant and racialised and minoritised communities in dozens of languages. Many piloted new ways of building trust and breaking down barriers to participation.
The evaluation of the UK Democracy Fund, independently conducted by the Policy Institute at King’s College London, shows that these campaigns made a real difference.
Grantees contributed to hundreds of thousands of new voter registrations, developed policy-relevant evidence on electoral reform, and created lasting tools and strategies to strengthen participation.
Crucially, it shares lessons which the Fund, our grantees and the wider sector can take on. Campaigners looking to increase democratic participation should be building trust through culturally competent, community-led outreach, whether it be online or in person. Campaigns that embraced collaboration, shared learning, and adaptive strategies—supported by flexible funding—were best positioned to respond to challenges and deepen impact.
Going forward, embedding evaluation and sharing insights openly will be vital to sustaining momentum and strengthening the wider movement for democratic engagement.
Downloads:
Evaluation of the UK Democracy Fund (2025, Policy Institute, King’s College London)