Louisa strategically communicates our research and policy recommendations to build credibility and help us achieve systemic change for communities. She does this through our external communication channels and networks including press and media, the website, and social media.
Briefing: The civic high street
Our civic high street briefing offers recommendations for how government can deliver a transformative High Street Strategy, using policy and investment to drive civic high street regeneration and create good places for communities to live, work and connect.
The new high street playbook: Community-led innovation in action
The 'new high street playbook' shares lessons from our Community-Led High Street Innovators programme, and why they matter now. Connecting real world practice to the current policy window, this report reflects a growing focus on the conditions needed for longer-term stewardship, particularly the role of community influence, governance and ownership in shaping the future of our high streets.
2026-2030 strategy: Shaping a future powered by community business
Our new organisational strategy is a moment of opportunity. A decade of experience has shown what community business can achieve, turning empty buildings into thriving hubs, creating local wealth and delivering services built on what people need.
From the ground up: Community business and Britain’s next decade
For the past decade, Power to Change has seen community business grow steadily into a movement that spans the country. This essay collection advances a vision of Britain’s future where power and resources are in local hands and community business at the heart of facing down the nation’s challenges.
Edberts House
On the High Lanes estate in Gateshead, Edberts House is more than just a building—it’s a warm, welcoming space that has been that listening ear
since 2009. With a pioneering approach to community-led health and wellbeing, Edberts House is proving that real change starts on your doorstep.
Returning power to the people: What community empowerment can do for the public and for politics
At a time when the government faces enormous pressure to mount a response to the sense of discontent and decline that the public is feeling, giving communities more local control is emerging as a solution that is both effective and popular. This research demonstrates the need to put communities at the heart of the political debate to unlock a path to national renewal.
Grimsby
Community businesses are making an impact in Grimsby, creating local employment opportunities, tackling deprivation and restoring pride in the community, while finding new ways to generate income to become self-sustaining.
Legacy West Midlands
Beginning life as a heritage organisation, Legacy West Midlands has become a catalyst to the growth of the social economy in Soho and Handsworth. As well as delivering health, wellbeing, culture, and youth programmes to its community, it now has a hand in connecting local community groups and social entrepreneurs.
Lessons in local growth
‘Lessons in local growth’ highlights how strategic authorities can harness the power of the social economy to drive inclusive and sustainable economic growth. The report takes learnings from partnerships with the West Midlands Combined Authority, North East Combined Authority, and Liverpool City Region Combined Authority to set out ten practical lessons to growing regional social economies.
West Midlands Combined Authority
West Midlands Combined Authority is committed to tackling inequalities through inclusive growth. To do this, they have set out a bold vision to double the size of the social economy.
We've partnered with West Midlands Combined Authority to implement their social economy growth strategy, making the West Midlands a better place to live and work in, for everyone.
North East Combined Authority
The North East Combined Authority is determined to maximise the region’s potential and address deprivation and socio-economic challenges facing their communities. Power to Change is supporting this goal with a partnership to help grow and develop the region’s social economy.
Liverpool City Region Combined Authority
Liverpool City Region is transforming into a place with a diverse and vibrant social economy, circulating profits locally to tackle deprivation head on.
Since 2018, Power to Change has partnered with Liverpool City Region to help grow and develop the community business sector, as part of the wider social economy.
Star and Shadow Cinema
As entertainment venues across the country are struggling, Star and Shadow Cinema is offering a vibrant, multi-arts and community-focused programme to the community in Newcastle’s East End. They’re breathing new life into their local area and inspiring and training the next generation of entertainment.
Closing the void: Can we reconnect politics with associational life?
This research shows that our democracy is in poor health but people who are involved in associational organisations – from book clubs to community businesses to working men’s clubs – are more likely to have trust in democratic institutions than those who are not. This report sets out concrete recommendations to government and political parties to renew our democracy through grassroots civil society, closing the void between citizens and democratic institutions.
Sherford Community Land Trust
Empowering residents in a new build estate to create the community assets and shared spaces they want and need.
Three Seas
Three Seas is helping to tackle the housing crisis in Cornwall by developing old coastguard cottages into affordable long-term rental accommodation for local people.
Fixing the foundations: A communities strategy for Britain
This paper explores community cohesion, empowerment and growth in response to the riots across the UK this summer. The recommendations put communities in the lead, reflecting the importance of places to meet and the need for support from all levels of government.
Resilient Communities Fund: A review
The Resilient Communities Fund provided emergency support as quickly as possible to community businesses, to support them to implement energy resilience projects to become more resilient to both climate change and the cost-of-living crisis.
Financing the future economy: How community businesses can access the right finance to achieve their ambitions
This report provides an overview of the finance and funding landscape for community business, outlining the challenges in accessing the right type of finance at the right time, and situating access to finance within the wider policy context.
Leading the Way evaluation report
The Leading the Way programme aimed to increase the skills, confidence, and networks of community enterprise leaders. This report evaluates it's impact, including on their enteprises and communities.
