Next up in our 10th anniversary essay collection, Sacha Bedding, Chief Executive of the Wharton Trust, reflects on their journey to empower local people in Dyke House, Hartlepool, to take action in their community.
Equity and inclusion in community business support
The Powering Up programme placed equity and inclusion at its heart, recognising the additional barriers faced by minoritised and racialised communities. This blog shares key lessons from our approach, from simplifying access and embedding culturally competent support, to building trust through lived experience and continuously evolving the programme design.
Building resilience through digital and climate skills
In an increasingly complex and interconnected world, community businesses face significant challenges around digital transformation and climate change, impacting their sustainability and effectiveness. Recognising these critical areas of support, Power to Change developed Powering Up, a targeted programme dedicated to strengthening community businesses by building essential capabilities in both digital innovation and climate action.
As part of the Powering Up programme, Power to Change embraced open working. Through this process, we learned how transparency and collaboration can drive innovation, amplify impact, and support a more sustainable and equitable future for community businesses.
Empowering community businesses through flexible support
The Powering Up programme illustrates how devolving power and adopting flexible, inclusive approaches can significantly enhance the effectiveness of support for community businesses.
Tim Davies-Pugh, Chief Executive at Power to Change, launches our series of blogs and essays in our 10th anniversary year. This series will reflect on how the world has evolved since 2015 and what it might look like in 2035.
Sustainable regeneration: Looking back and moving forward
Labour's new Plan for Neighbourhoods draws a line under the levelling up agenda. Instead, it looks back to New Labour's New Deal for Communities for inspiration. What can this teach us about longevity in regeneration programmes?
Why communities need the power to own environmental assets
Imagine if as well as pubs and village halls, communities could dream big and purchase beloved rivers, woods, and peat bogs. A tweak to Labour’s forthcoming Community Right to Buy could make this possible, but rumours are circulating that this change is at risk of being abandoned.
Developing innovative approaches to impact finance
Over the next two years, we’re working with five community asset developers to understand the role of accessible finance in unlocking positive impact for our communities.
Our recent Community Business Market Report 2024 shows that community business continue to face barriers in accessing sustainable forms of funding and finance. That’s why we’re working with government, funders and investors to foster appropriate and innovative finance for the future economy.
Community-powered high streets and life beyond retail
Our recent survey shows that community power is a top priority for community businesses. This year, we’re testing policies on the ground that put communities in charge.
We've joined forces with leaders locally and nationally to make a clear call to back community ownership and drive growth people can see and feel in their local area.
Celebration to setback: lessons in advocating for community ownership
The Community Ownership Fund has been a game-changer, helping communities to purchase the spaces they care about. But along with the latest allocation of funding came an announcement of the fund's closure, and an underspend that leaves many community businesses without the support they had been banking on. Our analysis explores why this happened and what we can learn from it.
Our new report, ‘Department stories’ captures how communities across England are reimagining former department stores to meet local needs and reinvigorate their high streets.
Two community business leaders reflect on the need for a communities strategy - one that backs community-led institutions and puts communities in charge.
Donald Trump’s recent victory shows how important it is to make people feel and see economic growth in their communities. In the UK, our high streets are a core part of getting this right.
