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The latest blogs
Views on communities and more from our team and national thought leaders.
What can community businesses do for our high streets?
Community businesses could succeed in revitalising Britain’s high streets – with the right support. New research by the Centre for Regional Economic and Social Research at Sheffield Hallam University explores how.
Community organisations respond to Labour’s plans for levelling up
Power to Change’s Ailbhe McNabola shares some community sector responses to Labour’s levelling up plans
Piloting new partnerships for community-led high street regeneration
Seven Community Improvement District pilots are now underway across England. Power to Change’s Jenny Sansom outlines what they hope to achieve.
Inclusive local economies through traditional retail markets
The new Markets4People handbook outline how traditional retail markets can help with the Covid-19 recovery, revitalise high streets recovery, and support community wealth building, community business and other linked local economic development agendas.
Supporting community businesses to measure impact
Research shows that community businesses want support in measuring and articulating their impact. We outline how we’re helping to address this gap in the sector.
Understanding the financial impact of Power to Change’s grant-funding on community businesses
Several years after Power to Change’s investment, what has been the financial impact of the Community Business Fund, Trade Up and Bright Ideas programme on their grantees?
Learning about what works (and what doesn’t) for community energy businesses
You can learn from things going wrong as well as things going right.
Restitching Britain’s social fabric, one community at a time
Power to Change’s Josh Westerling and Nick Plumb share their reflections on Restitch: the social fabric summit held in London and Halifax during May.
Assessing our Diversity, Transparency and Accountability
Power to Change has been rated on our diversity, transparency and accountability by the Friends Provident Foundation, in their first report publication of the Foundation Practice Rating (FPR). What is The Foundation Practice Rating? The FPR is a project led by Friends...
Understanding community life at a hyperlocal level
Power to Change commissioned Kantar to conduct a ‘hyperlocal’ version of the Community Life Survey, focused on six places in England participating in the Empowering Places programme. This blog outlines some initial findings on the relative impact of our work in each area.
Helping community businesses be more resilient with Trade Up
Power to Change’s Trade Up programme has encouraged resilience in community businesses, but most still require further time and support to thrive in the long run – a role that funders can play going forward.
The future of civil society infrastructure funding
Common Vision’s ‘Futures Playbook’ explores how building and resourcing infrastructure can support civil society to be impactful, resilient and adaptive in the future.
The power of in-person events
Bethan Hunt reflects on the 2021 Bradford Learning Camp of the Empowering Places Programme and the power of meeting in-person in light of the Covid-19 pandemic.
How can funders support established community businesses?
Renaisi’s evaluation outlines the impact that Community Business Fund had on existing community businesses and recommends ways in which funders can support them going forward.
How can funders support early-stage community businesses?
Renaisi’s evaluation outlines the impact that Bright Ideas had on community groups and early-stage community businesses, and recommends ways in which funders can support them going forward.