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Tim Davies-Pugh, Chief Executive of Power to Change, responds to the Autumn Statement
Our Deputy Chief Executive responds to the King’s Speech
A new report from Power to Change, in partnership with IPPR North and Locality, outlines the enormous and largely untapped potential of community businesses to create positive climate action
As five community businesses launch a groundbreaking community energy collective, seeking to raise £2.5 million to take ownership of seven solar farms, our climate action manager explores why Power to Change backed this initiative and what we hope our investment will go onto achieve.
Our high streets and town centres have faced significant decline in recent years, but a new community-led ...
A new report from Power to Change looks at regions which have seen the biggest increase in rising and persistent vacancy rates.
The Dulverton Trust joins Power to Change and School for Social Entrepreneurs, investing £100,000 into the Community Business Trade Up programme to fuel greater collaboration and support for community business leaders.
A new report on 'levelling up' from Power to Change reveals that some progress has been made for communities, but there is little impact being made, leading to public pessimism.
Today’s announcement on the allocation of Dormant Assets funding could be a game changer for the 11,000 community businesses working to support vulnerable people and communities in England.
A £2.2 million investment into supporting community businesses has been announced, as a new report reveals that, to date, communities across the UK have themselves raised £210 million to save local assets and services.
A new report by the British Academy and Power to Change explores how social infrastructure contributes to communities’ wellbeing, helps develop their resilience and tackles deepening geographic inequalities.
Community businesses continue to plug the gap in growing local support needs, whilst they grapple with high costs of doing business, heating and powering their buildings.
Tony Burton joins Power to Change’s board of trustees as Chair and will take up the new role from January 2023.
Stoke-on-Trent South MP and councillors met with Power to Change and high street community businesses supporting local people through the cost-of-living crisis.
The 2022 Community Business Market report, the 8th annual largest sector report reveals how community businesses are plugging the gap in local support as communities across England face a recession, rising costs of living and continued pressure on public services.
New polling shows that the public favour empowering local people and communities over abolition of the House of Lords as a way of restoring trust in politics.
Power to Change has been supporting innovative post-subsidy business models for community energy businesses through the Next Generation programme.
Ailbhe McNabola, director of Policy and Communications at Power to Change, responds to the Autumn Statement.
Once upon a TWINE: New report shares tips and advice for funders and communities developing digital tools
A new report from the Centre for Regional Economic and Social Research at Sheffield Hallam University and Power to Change has shone a light on the need and opportunity for supporting communities to save ailing high streets and support the levelling up agenda.
New appointments bring diversity of expertise and experience to community business sector
Power to Change's Nick Plumb responds to Labour's plans to level up the country in a speech at a community business in Darlington.
19 leaders from the North East and Yorkshire and the Humber will benefit from a tailored learning programme which includes a £8,000 grant and which supports the development and impact of community enterprises.
The second tranche of Community Improvement District pilots have been announced as part of a pioneering new initiative.
Tim Davies-Pugh has been appointed as the new Chief Executive of Power to Change. He takes over from Vidhya Alakeson OBE, who stepped down as Chief Executive in February 2022.
A new programme by Power to Change and the British Academy will help to better understand how social infrastructure approaches can contribute to the government’s levelling up agenda.
Power to Change’s Ailbhe McNabola responds to the Queen’s Speech 2022 and what the proposed Bills mean for communities.
Power to Change’s Nick Plumb is appointed to government task force tackling high street decline.
Twine apps, developed by Power to Change to help support community businesses with their admin, workflows and data collection, are entering their next phase under new ownership.
Community businesses in the Liverpool City Region can apply for business mentoring and support thanks to a new programme being delivered by The Women’s Organisation.
New report reveals a decade of accelerating shop closures and calls for a new fund to help local people secure property on the high street.
CORE - a consortium of community solar farms - has secured £31m refinancing. This landmark investment pioneers institutional financing into the community renewable energy sector.
A new partnership between the North of Tyne Combined Authority (NTCA) and Power to Change will provide a £4 million boost for community businesses in North East England.
Sarah Gorman, Melissa Mean and Jess Steele OBE have all joined the board of Power to Change, the charitable trust strengthening community business to tackle some of society’s biggest challenges.
Power to Change are committed to supporting community businesses to play their role in the fairer, greener economy.
After seven years, Vidhya Alakeson is leaving her role as Chief Executive of Power to Change to take up a new position as Director of External Relations for Keir Starmer, Leader of the Labour Party, in March.
Power to Change responds to the publication of the Government's Levelling Up White Paper.
Community Business Market in 2021 report shows thriving sector provides economic and social boost despite the pandemic.
Power to Change responds to the House of Commons Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Committee's high streets report.
A brand-new programme supporting community enterprise leaders in the North East of England and across Yorkshire & Humberside to build their skills and confidence to continue playing a vital role supporting communities.
Power to Change responds to the Fan Led Review of Football Governance
In a joint letter to Tracey Crouch MP ahead of the publication of the Fan Led Review of Football Governance, supporters trusts are calling for action to support fan and community ownership of our football clubs.
Reaction to the Chancellor’s Autumn 2021 Budget and Spending Review announcement.
Community pubs and shops demonstrate soaring confidence and sector growth despite the pandemic.
The public, and older voters especially, are extremely sceptical about the likely impact of the government’s levelling up agenda in their community.
This new report explores why the government must abandon its centralised Westminster-led approach to ‘Levelling Up’ or risk failure from outset.
New research report launches five key commitments to support minoritised ethnic communities.
22 high street leaders including property developers, investors and national government bodies, join forces to launch a new town centre property innovation programme.
As Kindred invests its first money, a new report from the University of Liverpool’s Heseltine Institute reveals the strength of the community business market in Liverpool City Region, pre-Covid.
Our mission is to strengthen community businesses to tackle some of society’s biggest challenges at a local level.
The government should give communities more say over their local high streets’ future and enable councils to support them to do this.
Six community solar farms across England and Wales - generating clean, renewable energy whilst reinvesting profits into the local community – have generated £60,000 of surplus profit which will be given to partners to support their local communities.
Our new report calls for government to put a Community Club Ownership Trust at the heart of football reforms as part of its new review following the failed European Super League.
Black South West Network, supported by key partners - VOSCUR and Locality – is launching the final report of a 9-month city-wide research project exploring the response of Bristol’s Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise sector to the pandemic and the potential of the sector in the city moving forward.
New report reveals impact of Power to Change on community businesses across England in just six years
High Street Tracker to test impact of social infrastructure on economic resilience.
New research shows community businesses have been vital rallying points for villages, towns and cities, promoting public health, reducing social isolation and improving community cohesion during the Covid-19 pandemic.
As four organisations working closely with diverse community organisations across the UK, we are jointly and publicly committing to advocate for and actively effect a more diverse, equitable and inclusive community business sector.
Today, community business champions Power to Change and Co-operatives UK, supported by the Mayor of London, launched a new funding pilot designed to boost the capital’s high streets and civic centres.
Community energy groups across England will benefit from a new peer support programme to help develop new innovative business models.
“Levelling Up” after the lockdown must focus on community revival as well as economic growth, MPs and charities demand.
The Covid-19 pandemic has pushed many UK businesses deep into financial crisis, but not all have suffered equally. In fact, the pandemic has produced some unlikely winners in the retail sector.
The National Association of Local Councils has launched The Good Councillor's Guide to Community Business to promote the opportunities that community businesses can create locally.
Responding to the Government’s Spending Review 2020, CEO of independent trust Power to Change Vidhya Alakeson, said:
205 community organisations led by, or that support, Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities have received a share of £9.5million of National Lottery funding to help recover from the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Crowdfunder & Power to Change team-up to launch Community Business Crowdmatch.
Independent trust Power to Change has launched Powering Up, a tailored package of support to enable community business leaders to increase their knowledge, capacity and business skills to help them navigate the coronavirus pandemic.
Power to Change has launched Community Business ReBoost fund - a new match-funding programme designed to help local communities recover, adapt and rebuild resilience through the Covid-19 pandemic.
New report reveals innovation driving community business trading success
When the word ‘change’ was baked into our name when we opened our doors in January 2015, we meant that as a pointer towards the transformative effect that community businesses can have in the places where they are based.
A new report shows that local people can save the spaces they care about for as little as £10.
Power to Change launches first phase of its Covid-19 renewal support package
Kindred is a key part of Liverpool City Region’s (LCR) commitment to growing the impact of good business.
Local community access and ownership of key buildings on the UK’s thousands of high streets could be pivotal to their future survival according to a new report commissioned by independent trust Power to Change.
From today, community business leaders in England can apply for an entrepreneurial learning programme and a grant of up to £10,000 to help pandemic-proof their businesses.
Power to Change, the independent trust that supports community businesses in England, is launching a new £5 million package of support to enable community businesses affected by the Covid-19 crisis to adapt, renew and rebuild their businesses so they can remain financially viable and best serve their local communities during the pandemic’s ‘new normal’.
New report from Power to Change shows 55% of community businesses expect to open up new line of trading activity.
The Public Relations and Communications Association (PRCA) Council has launched a new drive to uncover suppliers with a positive social impact.
A new guide designed to help local councils across England better understand the benefits that community businesses can bring to their areas is set to be launched later this year.
Communities across England are being urged to consider owning, leasing and running pubs which are under the threat of closure after the Covid-19 lockdown - and a support programme is being relaunched to help.
Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram has announced £5.5m for Liverpool City Region’s socially trading organisations, following approval from the Combined Authority meeting on Friday 31 July, 2020.
Community businesses are more financially independent, generate more income and are more invested in shaping social and public policy to improve their local area than other types of third sector organisations, according to new research published today.
As our beleaguered high streets stand at a critical crossroads, Power to Change’s CEO, Vidhya Alakeson, joins the High Streets Task Force Board to help shape a new future for our urban centres.
Today, a new £9.5million funding scheme that will support community-led organisations in England affected by the Covid-19 crisis, has been unveiled.
As the UK emerges from the Covid-19 lockdown, a new coalition is inviting us all to come together to build a kinder, closer and more connected society.
As the hospitality sector gets set to reopen, thousands of not-for-profit businesses across the UK can now access a free app offering an easy way to track and trace.
Today, The Grimsey Review published "Build Back Better: Covid-19 Supplement for town centres". Power to Change, an independent trust supporting community business in England, responds.
Community owned pubs are bucking the national picture of closure during the lockdown by diversifying their services and helping those in need, new figures have revealed.
Volunteers contributed up to an estimated 18 million hours of time and £250 million of services to England’s community businesses last year, according to a new report by independent trust Power to Change.
Cross-party think tank Demos has launched a People’s Commission on Life After Covid-19, Renew Normal, to lead the largest ever public conversation on the future of the UK.
Leading community sector infrastructure organisations in the UK have come together to create an online network to inspire and enable local people to act for themselves on the issues they care about in their community.
Stir to Action has launched 20 webinars in partnership with Power to Change to provide free training and peer support for those playing a vital role in their local economy during and after the crisis.
Power to Change, the independent trust that supports community businesses in England, is launching up to £12 million of emergency support to provide both immediate and medium-term help for community businesses facing a loss of trading income during the coronavirus crisis.
Six community-run solar farms in England and Wales have advanced a total of £195,000 in community benefit funds in order to support their local communities through the Covid-19 crisis.
A Plymouth-based fashion and textiles sampling studio is making workwear for health workers battling Covid-19 by turning surgery curtains into new protective garments.
CONTAGION AND CONTAINMENT: LANDMARK COVID-19 CITIZEN-SCIENCE PROJECT LAUNCHED
Power to Change has joined London Funders, a coalition of trusts and funders, in pledging support for our grantees during these unprecedented times.
Power to Change has partnered with Practical Governance to back a new network developed to support and connect community business leaders during the coronavirus pandemic.
A community pub on Brighton’s Moulsecoomb estate is providing a ‘meals on wheels’ style service to vulnerable local people who can’t get out to buy food during the COVID-19 crisis.
The developing organisation Kindred has partnered with the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority to provide vital business support to the City Region’s socially trading organisations (STOs) during the COVID-19 situation.
Power to Change, the charitable trust which supports community businesses across England, is postponing Community Business Weekend 2020 until later in the year.
On Wednesday 4th March, Onward launched its latest research programme: Repairing our Social Fabric. Read a summary of the launch report.
Vidhya Alakeson, Power to Change’s Chief Executive, has been named in the 2020 Power 50 awards: a roll call of 50 powerful executives in the UK - who all happen to work part-time or flexibly.
Communities working together to save much-loved buildings and spaces will today be able to apply for a share of a new £600,000 pot from the Architectural Heritage Fund (AHF).
National ambassadors, a new podcast series, a dedicated PR campaign and consumer research will all play a part in the run-up to Power to Change’s annual celebration of community businesses, Community Business Weekend 2020.
Packed with information, case studies, checklists, templates and practical tools, The Community Hub Handbook – published today– is a new, free resource that sets out how to run a thriving community hub and ensure its future is secure.
A new housing fund is launching that aims to empower community groups, enabling them to plan and build a thousand affordable homes in local communities across the country.
Community Owned Renewable Energy Partners (CORE) and Yealm Community Energy (YCE) are celebrating the successful connection of the UK’s first subsidy-free community ground-mount solar.
The charitable trust will offer top-ups to ensure all grants cover the Real Living Wage, and help community businesses to become Living Wage Employers.
A group of volunteers who opened the first community pub on a suburban housing estate in the UK are set to help others to do the same.
The Bright Ideas Fund will be opening for new applications on Wednesday 26 February.
New research shows Match Trading® grants support 64% increase in income from trading
Comic Relief, Power to Change, and Guy’s and St Thomas’ Charity are the latest organisations to commit to addressing the causes of the climate emergency by signing up to the Funder Commitment on Climate Change.
Keighley Community Health Grants will help community businesses and community organisations to offer activities which boost health and wellbeing.
Power to Change is pleased to announce a significant new partnership with Social Investment Business.
Grants of up to £50,000 per project are on offer as part of the Power to Change Research Institute’s open call for research.
More Than A Pub, the £2.2m continuation of the 2016-2019 programme launched earlier this year to support community controlled pubs, has received a £650,000 bonus thanks to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG).
Now in the second round of applications, the Next Generation Fund, which aims to encourage innovation from established and experienced community energy businesses, has shortlisted six groups to progress into the R&D stage.
Power to Change has pledged to consider how all our investments, operations and funding programmes are operated so that they contribute to a fair and lasting transition to a post-carbon society.
Power to Change, the independent trust which supports community business across England, has released its 2019 market report, which gives a snapshot of the growing sector.
Uplifting new film commissioned by Power to Change showcases the people behind city’s thriving community business network
The 100 Day Challenge has launched in Liverpool, where three teams will come together to test ideas that support children, young people and families in their neighbourhoods to thrive.
The second-hand furniture business has used a £10,000 grant from charitable trust Power to Change to expand its services in the community.
Bread + Roses and Queensbury Celtic Football Club among those taking home funding from Power to Change, and business skills support from M&S and PWC
Charitable trust, Power to Change, has won Agenda Consulting’s Employee Engagement Award 2019 after 93% of staff agreed they would recommend it as good place to work.”
Community Business Crowdmatch, a partnership between Crowdfunder and Power to Change which offers extra funding for community businesses has increased the amount of capital raised for community businesses using it by 115%
Deadline to apply closes Saturday, November 30
21 community-owned businesses from across the UK are finalists for national awards to recognise some of the most inspiring enterprises of their kind.
'Bristol 2019: A New Kind of Community' exhibition will be on display at Trinity Community Arts, Trinity Road in Lawrence Hill from Wednesday 27th November to Thursday 5th December 2019
Independent charitable trust Power to Change won the accolade in recognition of its work to transfer solar farms to communities and encourage community energy innovation.
Five inspiring community businesses in Bradford are now in line for a package of support including business skills training and a cash grant.
Steve Rotheram, Metro Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, will announce plans to establish a fund to support socially trading organisations to multiply and grow across the city region, including potential funding from the Combined Authority of up to £5 million.
The new Institute for Community Studies, supported by Power to Change, has set out its agenda to bring elite institutions together with people and communities to address the big social challenges of our era.
APE Project CIC, Arnos Vale Cemetery Trust and Windmill Hill City Farm among those taking home funding and support from M&S and Power to Change.
Community businesses who choose to use Crowdfunder to secure capital for their projects could have their efforts matched to the tune of £6,000 – if they raise the funds this year.
National charity the Plunkett Foundation releases two reports showing rural community businesses thriving and growing in number as people take control in the face of multiple challenges
City Funds launches investment fund that is first of its kind in the UK
Funding approach joins investment, ...
Fleet Street journalist Alan Qualtrough has set up a dedicated newspaper for the Stonehouse area of Plymouth.
A new report, Power Partnerships, released today (Thursday 26th September 2019) by charity Locality, in association with Local Trust and Power to Change, reveals how to strengthen localism to harness community power and deliver the democratic renewal we urgently need as a country.
The UK needs to reboot localism and empower communities to influence decisions in their local neighbourhoods. That's according to a new report by the think tank Centre for London.
Communities themselves are perfectly placed to respond to the crisis on the high street and should be empowered and supported to own more high street properties, according to a new report from Power to Change.
New research reveals community businesses often sign up to deliver public service contracts knowing that they will make a financial loss.
The Protecting Community Assets Inquiry today publishes its interim report, warning that a fifth of existing community assets could be at risk of falling out of community hands unless steps are taken by funders, government and community organisations to protect the community interest in them.
Community groups with bright ideas for energy innovation have been awarded almost £500,000 from Power to Change’s Next Generation Fund.
Power to Change are proud to publish ‘Community business at the heart of local change: Our strategy 2019-2022’.
Community businesses improving the local area can access free support and funding from the School for Social Entrepreneurs and Power to Change
Community-run farms, a café and the operator of an adventure playground are among the businesses in line for skills support and a cash grant of up to £10,000 after reaching the final of the Bristol leg of the M&S Community Business Challenge.
Charitable Trust’s panel advises Power to Change on strategy and best use of funding
Cash grants worth between £50,000 and £300,000 will be made to community businesses across England through the eighth round of Power to Change’s Community Business Fund.
M&S and Power to Change, the independent charitable trust dedicated to supporting thriving local communities, have launched a new business support programme for Bradford that offers local businesses the chance to apply for free skills training and up to £10,000 of grant funding.
First full study of community-owned land and buildings in over a decade reveals important contribution to the economy
The Bright Ideas Fund will open for new applications on Tuesday, August 6. The fund offers tailored support and grants of up to £15,000 to community groups, associations and organisations across England who have a good idea for a community business but need help developing it.
Today, Charity Bank announces a £5 million deposit injection from the independent charitable trust, Power to Change. With seven in ten people agreeing that charities should invest their savings and investments ethically, Charity Bank is calling on other organisations to align their money and mission.1
M&S and Power to Change are taking the Community Business Challenge to Bristol. The programme offers local businesses the chance to apply for free skills training and up to £10,000 of grant funding, and has already supported 12 community businesses in Liverpool and Plymouth.
The organisers of the Community Shares Booster programme, which offers a combination of development support and match funding to community businesses, are urging community groups not to miss out on their share of the £1.6m funding that is still available.
More Than a Pub, a £2.2m fund to help community groups across England looking to take ownership of their local pub, has launched its second phase.
Power to Change appoints Capacity: The Public Services Lab to identify needs in and around the city
Nudge Community Builders, Billy Ruffians, Makers HQ, St Saviours and The Furniture Reuse project all take home funding and support from M&S and Power to Change.
New research published by independent trust Power to Change in the run up to Community Business Weekend (16-19 May) reveals the sector is growing, optimistic and showing increased levels of confidence.
We’re living in divisive times - but Brits say their sense of community spirit is alive and well and helping rebuild fractured neighbourhoods.
Five inspiring community businesses are now in line for a package of support including business development and a cash grant
Power to Change is calling for community businesses to sign up so they can generate new customers, volunteers and spread the word about this vibrant, growing, sector.
In 2010 there were around 10 libraries in the hands of communities in England. By 2017, the number had risen to 500. Up and down the country, communities are rescuing libraries from closure as cash strapped local authorities have run out of funds to keep them going.
The Community Business Fund from independent trust, Power to Change, will reopen on Wednesday, April 24, offering grants of between £50,000 and £300,000 to businesses in England trading for the benefit of and accountable to their local communities.
LCR is home to at least 84 community businesses, with an annual turnover of £22m, net assets of £38m and more than 600 paid staff. Asset ownership is key to financial sustainability. Researchers call for community business leadership programme pilot
M&S and Power to Change join forces to launch Community Business initiative: local community businesses invited to apply for a package of support including business development and funding
Community businesses can apply for a package of business skills support from M&S and up to £10,000 of funding per project from Power to Change.
31 community energy groups applied
Homebaked Community Land Trust will open up 189 Oakfield Road so people can come and have their say on plans to bring the boarded-up terrace back to life.
Study focusing on Liverpool, Bristol and Ipswich finds potential for local wealth building by adopting joined-up approach to delivering public services
Solar farms in Shropshire, Kent and Isle of Wight will distribute surplus profits locally for the next 20 years.
A new evaluation report for Mali Enterprising Leaders (MEL) by The Ubele Initiative
New partnership to support community land trusts
Innovative project to create ‘power partnerships’ between local government and communities
Partnership will help communities in Suffolk to set up their own businesses
We will launch our findings in Autumn 2019, to support more councils to create the environment for localism to flourish.
The Power to Change Research Institute is commissioning and supporting over 25 different research projects this year. We want to better understand what makes community businesses thrive and what impact the sector is having on the wider community.
Over £1m given to 17 community organisations in match-funded equity investments
The Homes in Community Hands programme, administered by Community Led Homes, will award grants averaging £50,000 to community led housing groups in England. These include community land trusts, cohousing groups, and housing co-operatives.
Power to Change is announcing a new £3.2m Community Business Bright Ideas Fund to offer tailored support and grants of up to £15,000 to 150 groups to develop their projects.
Community pubs going from strength to strength
New Loans for Enlightened Agriculture Programme
Photographer Tricia Porter has returned to Liverpool to create a set of bold new portraits celebrating Liverpudlian life as part of the Community is Our Business campaign.
The uplifting footage, commissioned by independent trust Power to Change, highlights some of the people, places and ideas behind the city’s dynamic alternative economy.
This emotive film celebrates the people at the heart of Liverpool's community business scene. A huge thanks to the narration by Sue Johnston.
Community businesses across England can now apply for a learning programme and a grant matched to their earnings of up to £10,000, to support their growth and increase the difference they make to their local area.
Power to Change and Plunkett have announced a new £2.2m funding programme for community pubs
New report commissioned by Power to Change sets out roadmap to realise sector’s potential by 2030.
Seven winners of the Power to Change/ M&S Community Business Challenge have been announced at a showcase event at The Florrie, Liverpool.
20 fully-funded workshop places up for grabs on Stir to Action's New Economy Programme!
Today the School for Social Entrepreneurs (SSE), in partnership with Power to Change, have released positive new data from the first cohort of community businesses in England to be supported by Match Trading™ grants, a new type of grant funding.
A £1m+ fund and expert support programme has been created by Power to Change to pioneer innovative community-led projects and business models. The Next Generation programme will offer up to ten c.£100,000 grants to community businesses to develop decentralised, decarbonised, and democratised energy business models.
Grade II Listed building was brought back to life with the help of £255,000 raised through community shares
Calling all community businesses in Liverpool!
Round 6 of the flagship Community Business Fund opens on Tuesday 11 September
A new research report published today highlights how community businesses delivering health and well-being services in England should be supported to ease the strain on the NHS.
Power to Change welcomes four new members to the Community Business Panel
it’s a smarter alternative to status quo, argue Power to Change and Social Finance
Up to £700,000 available in support of new and emerging community businesses.
A new network is being created to help put more pubs in community hands and it needs community pub leaders to help lead it
People today are looking to take action to make their own neighbourhoods better and forming a new generation of CIMBYs
We're on the lookout for community businesses in the health and social care sector!
Apply for the opportunity to partner with university researchers and bid for research funding.
Show your pride with us at the Pride in London parade on Saturday 7 July
Over £16 million has already been awarded to help community businesses become more sustainable.
The launch of a new guide for councillors to help them successfully transfer vital assets to communities
May the best pie win
Power to Change has announced the dates for Community Business Weekend 2018 (#CBwkd18); running from 4-7 May and taking place across England
Community Pubs Minister Jake Berry announces extension
Power to Change and Big Society Capital come together to facilitate community ownership of solar farms in England.
New initiative matches academics and community businesses to pair up for social benefit.
Our community business market report 2017 shows.
Power to Change welcomes the Government’s announcement that 56 council-led partnerships will receive £8.7 million to improve public services, stimulate economic growth and free up land for thousands of new homes.
Power to Change and Pro Bono Economics publish pioneering framework to help local authorities, community businesses and the social sector unlock local assets worth an estimated £7 billion in England alone
The history of community business, of course.
The Community Shares Booster programme offers support and match funding.
Community energy groups cleaned up at the Green Energy Awards 2017.
Highlights from the first ever community-led housing conference
Every year for the next 3 years.
More and more people are opting for tiny homes with lower-running costs, lower ecological footprint and simpler lifestyles.
Local people building their own homes and reinvesting profits into local training and employment.
Why we need Localism to get the economy moving
We recently launched three new funding programmes to support a total of 15 English wards, cities and regions
What questions should we be asking about community accountability?
Today a new project launches to define The Future of Community Business in the UK.
Author Steve Wyler reflects on the role history plays for community businesses today
Ged Devlin reflects on the SITR stats
Power to Change welcomes new trustees
Power to Change's 'Neighbourhood Economic Models' report finds.
How can civic trusts help to reform data governance, 800 years after the Charter of the Forest.
Bill Graham shares why he values local, city-wide and national community business networks.
We will focus on 7 places in England.
Power to Change supports community housing, as well as other businesses in community hands.
The Craufurd Arms in Maidenhead is set to become the 50th co-operative pub in the UK
Drinks all round as three more pubs move into community ownership
New research shows how communities can build the homes, businesses and transport links that local people need
The Trade Up programme will help early-stage community businesses.
Local groups received £10.24m from Power to Change’s keynote Community Business Fund in 2016/17
You can read the full Sunday Mirror news supplement from April 2017
Liverpudlians are more aware of local council cuts than residents of three other major English cities, and are more likely to say cuts have had a negative impact on them.
Research will focus on community business and village halls, social care and health and wellbeing
A new independent Commission on the Future of Localism, backed by Power to Change, is launched today
Parliament is right to encourage civil society to become more business-savvy
A big cash injection will give groups early support to develop ideas their communities want and need
A 122-year old pier, two community energy schemes and a Grade II-listed building are among groups moved into community ownership
Local authorities should consider the help they can offer community businesses, using the new discretionary fund
You are welcome to join a debate discussing the housing crisis and potential solutions for communities, chaired by Patrick Smith from BuzzFeed
Cross-party report highlights the need to radically rethink the role of communities
The latest in our £3 million programme to rejuvenate local pubs
Targeted investment as the government concedes housing market is 'broken'
Housing success after Power to Change matched the first £100,000 of investment
'Another plan imposed from the centre at Whitehall won’t cut it'
Locals take over a much-loved pub, supported by Power to Change
Power to Change are helping to find the next generation of community leaders
People are transforming the places where they live
Join the army of local investors!
'Community business can help beleaguered local authorities improve what they offer their citizens'
New research: 300 libraries among the assets now run by local communities
New research: Communities control more of their own local assets—even their public toilets
Government and foundations launch joint £1.85m fund to make great community ideas a reality
Power to Change will match-fund £100,000 in community shares for local projects
New community pubs open, after support from Power to Change and others
Crediton bookshop in Devon will expand its premises and events, thanks to Power to Change
There is just one week left to enter Power to Change’s Community Business Bright Sparks competition. The scheme offers budding community businesses in Merseyside and Greater Manchester the chance to win £6,000 of business development support.
Power to Change, the organisation set up to support and grow community businesses in England, has made further steps in its commitment to being a fair and equal opportunities employer by signing up to the London Living Wage and is Disability Confident Committed.
Today Power to Change launches its Community Business Bright Sparks competition which offers budding community businesses in Merseyside and Greater Manchester the chance to win a £6,000 award.
Community groups in Yorkshire and the North East trying to save their local pub from closure are being encouraged to attend a free, two-day tour of two North Yorkshire pubs that were saved as community pubs.
Taking place on 2 and 3 July and the first of its kind, Community Business Weekend will see community businesses all over England throw open their doors and host inspiring events to promote the positive impact they have in their local area.
Power to Change and the Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (RSA) today launch a new leadership programme for community business leaders in the South West to develop their skills and connect with their peers across England.
The Community Shares Booster Programme is a new innovative initiative to support and foster community business across England.
On Tuesday 26 April at an event attended by leaders in social finance took place to launch Spacious Place, a unique new community business and employment hub at the heart of Burnley’s historic Weavers’ Triangle.
At Power to Change we kick off today an England-wide campaign today calling on community businesses to celebrate their success and the positive impact they have had on their local areas.
A major new support and finance programme to help people take control of their local pub for the benefit of the community has been announced today (Wednesday 9 March 2016) by Community Pubs Minister Marcus Jones MP.
A new report from the Power to Change Research Institute shows that the number of community businesses in England grew by 9% in the last year. This significant increase takes the number of community businesses from 5,035 in 2014 to 5,650 in 2015.
A new round of grant funding designed to help community businesses thrive is to be managed by County Durham’s experienced business service provider, BE Group.
Power to Change, the independent charitable trust endowed with £150 million from the Big Lottery Fund to grow community business across England, has named Stephen Howard as its new chair. He will take over from Acting Chair, Carla Stent, who will continue to serve the trust as Vice Chair.
A new report from Social Finance has revealed new findings about the current state and scope of the community business sector.
And so, as the dust settles in the debating chamber of the House of Commons, the hard work begins, analysing the detail of today’s Spending Review and Autumn Statement.
Power to Change’s Initial Grants Programme closed last week, with a promising pipeline of more than 700 applications to assess. It opened in May this year, specifically designed to help existing community businesses in a position to significantly progress towards long term sustainability within six months.
There’s never enough time in the day when you’re running a community business. But it’s important to make time to engage with your local community to deliver goods or services local people actually need and want.
Last week we were in Camberwell in South London for our first workshop for community businesses to support them in their growth.
A community centre in a Rotherham church, an arts centre in an East Anglian Grade II listed hall and a village shop in rural Cumbria – these are the three community businesses that received funding in September through Power to Change’s Initial Grants Programme (IGP).
We are delighted to have completed the recruitment of our community business panel.
The Big Lottery Fund has today awarded a £150m endowment to Power to Change, a new independent grant-making foundation that will champion community businesses across England.