A key part of my induction as a new trustee of Power to Change has been the chance to visit community business across the country. It’s given me an invaluable opportunity to see, first hand, the reality of what’s involved in delivering community-led change on the ground.
At the end of January, I visited Heeley Trust in Sheffield, together with Chief Executive Tim Davies-Pugh, fellow trustees Lara Carmona and Solomon Elliott, and Head of Policy and Research Ellie Radcliffe
Building community
Heeley Trust was formed 30 years ago, when it was able to secure 3.5 hectares of land that was originally cleared for a dual carriageway but was never constructed, for various reasons including public pressure. That land lay derelict and disowned for years, until the community came together to transform the place into Heeley Peoples’ Park, a community owned park and green space for local people to use and enjoy. Since then, the Trust has developed a range of community assets that serve and strengthen the local community. These include:
- Sum Studios – a beautifully restored Grade II listed Victorian school building, which now provides office and studio space to over 90 local businesses.
- A Different Gear – an independent community owned bike shop.
- Heeley Trust Community Hub – offering health, wellbeing and community support services such as social prescribing, digital skills and group activities.
These spaces show what’s possible when communities have the power to influence local decisions in their own neighbourhoods, bringing people closer together and having a real say in what matters to them.
The Trust is an important community anchor employing around 30 staff, mainly from the local area and is supported by a wider network of volunteers. Meeting them during the visit, their pride and commitment to the Trust’s work was clear.
The barriers community businesses still face
We were guided by Andy Jackson, the CEO of the Trust, who grew up in Heeley and returned to lead the organisation. His passion for the place, and for what the Trust has achieved, was unmistakable.
Alongside the successes, there are also challenges.
Despite the Trust’s community roots, expertise, and its clear track record, Heeley Trust is still having to fight for a seat at the table. Too often decisions about local areas are made without the meaningful involvement of the very organisations rooted in those communities. There are also ongoing financial barriers. Even with the success of Sum Studios, securing the capital to redevelop the rest of the school building has been difficult. And more recently, the Trust has had to face the loss of an important asset which, at the end of a 25-year lease, is reverting to its original owner forcing some projects to relocate.
What we learned that day, reflect the wider issues Power to Change together with community businesses have long been advocating for. Particularly, the need for meaningful powers to ensure community organisations are treated as equal partners by local authorities, the NHS and others.
Making a real impact
Despite the challenges, what stood out most was the Trust’s impact.
One story brought this to life. As we walked through the area, Andy pointed out a local pub and shared how he had been talking to its landlord about how they were doing. In the past, the landlord said their busiest day of the year had been Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. Now, it’s any day when the Heeley Trust is running an event in the area. This story powerfully demonstrates how community businesses like Heeley Trust not only revitalise local places but also strengthen the local economy.
My father’s background in the mining valleys of South Wales, gave me from an early age a strong sense of what communities can achieve when they come together. For instance, in providing access to healthcare, free at the point of delivery, well before the creation of the NHS. The same spirit is alive in places like Heeley. Yet our political and financial systems are too often stacked against community business. If we want to unlock the power of community to change what matters to them, we need to do more to remove the barriers they face and amplify their impact.
My hope is that we can continue to help tell these stories, so they are heard by decision makers and the wider public, leading to real and lasting change.
Paul has now retired following an extensive career in national government, the voluntary sector and the NHS. He has spent the last 15 years working in the field of mental health. For several years, he has been a trustee of the Joseph Rowntree Trust, and we welcomed Paul to the Power to Change Board of Trustees in December 2025.
