Future programme

An overview of British Future’s current work and future programme.

Immigration and asylum

Immigration and asylum remain among the most polarised and heated debates in UK politics, despite net migration falling significantly from post-Covid highs

Public opinion is considerably more nuanced than the picture portrayed by the current immigration debate. We are working to inform politicians, policymakers and media producers about the real shape of public attitudes on these contested issues. British Future conducts the annual Immigration Attitudes Tracker survey, providing us with an in-depth understanding of shifting public attitudes to immigration and refugee protection.

We propose constructive policy responses to key issues, recommending an approach that can secure public consent by combining control and compassion, such as that detailed in our 2025 report ‘How to actually stop the boats’.

Settlement and citizenship

The broad public intuition is that migrants settling and making their lives here is preferable to the churn of short-term migration. Having secure status enables people to put down roots and become part of our shared society. Leaving people in limbo for many years without secure status can hinder integration and social cohesion.

Building on our Independent Citizenship Inquiry, we support efforts to promote settlement and citizenship for those who wish to settle here and become British.

Integration and social cohesion

A cohesive and integrated society, in which we all have a stake, will not happen of its own accord. We support a proactive approach to social cohesion, at both national and local level, which brings people together and seeks to bridge divides across differences by ethnicity, faith or politics.

Our award-winning report ‘The State of Us’ is the most comprehensive examination of cohesion and community strength in the UK since the riots of summer 2024. It was a foundational input to the new Independent Commission on Community and Cohesion, chaired by Sir Sajid Javid and Jon Cruddas. British Future Director Sunder Katwala is one of its commissioners.

We support work to promote cohesion at a local level, including through research. Our Independent Commission on Inclusion and Belonging in Multi-Ethnic Newham, for example, examines how residents in one of the UK’s most diverse places can live well together.

And a new project, the Asian Bridgers Network, seeks to understand and bridge divides within Britain’s South Asian communities, supporting those who are helping to build trust and connection.

Race and prejudice

Race is a prominent theme in an increasingly diverse Britain, and we need to become more confident talking about it. We offer practical advice to institutions in politics and business, education and civic society interested in how constructive conversations about race can lead to positive change. We also host and support the Windrush 100 network, bringing together those who work to commemorate Windrush Day each year.

Our Voices for Equity project seeks to advance a more racially just and inclusive Britain. By combining research with engagement from communities and policymakers, it will generate timely, actionable evidence to inform policy on racial inequity. The project, supported by the Nuffield Foundation, will amplify the voices of ethnic minority Britons, especially young people, and translate their priorities into clear recommendations to strengthen representation, understanding, opportunity and belonging.

In an era of rising polarisation, tackling hatred and prejudice matters more than ever. Effective communications are important – but only when they reach and persuade the right audiences. Drawing on deep insight into public attitudes on immigration, identity and race, British Future helps anti-prejudice organisations communicate in ways that shift can opinion and behaviour.

Inclusive identity

We continue our work to promote shared identities that can challenge and defuse efforts to divide our society. A new project in 2026 will promote an inclusive and shared English identity on St George’s Day and as the Three Lions compete for the World Cup.

We are also building on our ongoing Remember Together work, which brings people together from different backgrounds to uncover and commemorate our shared history. The My Family Legacy campaign, supported by the Royal British Legion as part of its Forgotten Army project, asks South Asian families to share their family stories of service in the world wars and communicates these proud stories of contribution to a wider audience.

Read our brochure ‘Finding common ground’ to find out more about British Future’s vision for the future.

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