"folk clubs are about encouraging music in local communities"

That's an interesting view and one that it would be nice to believe in. That hasn't been my experience. I like folk clubs and the music performed in them but I think they no more encourage music in local communities any more than jazz clubs do. They tend to supply and serve a specific and narrow style of music to a small group of (mostly) already converted people.

Encouraging music in local communities is much more served by Community choirs or the meeting that Stallion mentions. Singarounds and sessions are much more inclusive than 'folk clubs'. Stacks of music going on round our part of the world but - outside of the Black Swan in York - very few 'folk clubs' within 25 miles.