With the launch of two reports calling on government to put communities in the lead and invest in social infrastructure in order to achieve levelling up, Ailbhe McNabola reflects on the findings and what needs to happen next.
Following on from the progress update of Empowering Places in January of this year, Bonnie Hewson shares a roundup of our learning to date.
Power to Change are seeking proposals from organisations with great ideas that will help to transform the sector, making it more resilient and sustainable for the long term.
This blog post is the third of three outlining the research that Promising Trouble has undertaken for Power to Change, answering the question, “How can Power to Change inspire greater uptake of community tech?”
This blog post is the second of three outlining the research that Promising Trouble has undertaken for Power to Change, answering the question, “How can Power to Change inspire greater uptake of community tech?”
This blog post is the first of three outlining the research that Promising Trouble has undertaken for Power to Change, answering the question: “How can Power to Change inspire greater uptake of community tech?”
Six years of cutting-edge research into the community business sector, from Power to Change, will now be hosted by our partners, the Institute for Community Studies.
At Power to Change, our mission is to strengthen community businesses to tackle some of society’s biggest challenges at a local level, including climate change.
Community business Covid-19 diaries give us a window in to how these diverse organisations and their communities coped and responded to the crisis.
Moving towards equity, how will we at Power to Change address the diversity, equity and inclusion recommendations from our latest report?
If government is serious about levelling up, it must put communities in the lead .
The first Peer Networks Community of Practice online session focused on the different roles people take up to make sure their networks work thrive.
We take a look at some of the community businesses who have already received investment.
Rebecca Trevalyan is on a mission to make it easier for communities to access the land and property in their town centres.
We are right in the middle of Community Energy Fortnight, with over 400 organisations across the country hosting events, launching Twitter takeovers and writing blogs to celebrate all things community energy.
Community businesses strengthen local economies and enrich the fabric of society. They bring people together to improve their local areas, often operating in low-income areas while supporting our most vulnerable groups.
Covid has been a prominent reminder that if we are to have healthy and happy citizens, a cityscape is not complete without high-quality natural spaces.
The Community Shares Booster programme has been pivotal to the community shares revolution.
From next week pubs will literally open their doors once more as we’ll finally be allowed back inside in groups of six or fewer. Many of us are now used to booking weeks in advance to huddle under a heater, but the next stage of the roadmap will allow even more of our much-missed pubs to reopen.
How do we make it easier for communities to access town centre property and space?
Football, the clubs and their grounds, are about far more than business. They sit at the very heart of many communities. They are vital assets that bring communities together, build identity and pride and make a significant contribution to the local economy. They are the ultimate community business.
Georgina Edwards, Plunkett Foundation’s Information Hub Manager, introduces their new Better Business survey.
Last year, Power to Change launched the Community Business Renewal Initiative to support the community business sector through Covid-19. As the Powering Up programme re-opens for applications, we take a look at how it works and what’s in it for community businesses.
A dizzying array of funds with similar names were announced at the budget this week, many which fell under the banner of their ‘levelling up’ agenda.
Meeting the grantees using their grants to support their communities through the Covid-19 crisis.
The Better Way Network is a network of leaders who want to improve services and build strong communities. Here, Laura Seebohm, the Better Way convenor in the North, explores the work they do.
What do we mean by ‘better places’? Can community businesses really transform their local areas?
Could you support the next generation of community energy organisations by sharing your knowledge and experience? We are looking for passionate and enthusiastic community energy organisations to participate in a peer mentoring scheme.
Programme manager Bonnie Hewson reflects on the progress of the programme
We need to give communities the power and capital to shape their neighbourhoods
Meeting the grantees using their grants to support their communities through the pandemic
In this blog series, we’re looking back at this difficult, unforgettable year and the many ways Power to Change had to adapt to support the community business sector during the pandemic.
In this blog series, we’re looking back at this difficult, unforgettable year and the many ways Power to Change had to adapt to support the community business sector during the pandemic.
In this blog series, we’re looking back at this difficult, unforgettable year and the many ways Power to Change had to adapt to support the community business sector during the pandemic.
In this blog series, we’re looking back at this difficult, unforgettable year and the many ways Power to Change had to adapt to support the community business sector during the pandemic.
In this blog series, we’re looking back at this difficult, unforgettable year and the many ways Power to Change had to adapt to support the community business sector during the pandemic.
Lauren Pennycook, Senior Policy and Development Officer at Carnegie UK Trust, looks at the learnings from the Trust’s latest report into communities’ Covid-19 response
As we say goodbye to Mark Gordon, he reflects on his time working with community business
Charlotte Cassedanne and Rose Seagrief look back at the development of the CCLORS fund
We need to change the way we talk about the challenges of community business, says Bonnie Hewson.
Our aims to put community at the heart of town centres, by Policy Manager, Nick Plumb.
Vidhya Alakeson looks ahead to the Government’s 2020 spending review
By unlocking the power of community, local authorities can create more responsive services, says Locality Chief Executive, Tony Armstrong.
Power to Change has launched two new matched funding programmes as part of the Community Business Renewal Fund. So how are they different?
The New Civic High Street was the culmination of a series of webinars run by Power to Change, looking at how our rapidly transforming town centres provide opportunities for radical thinking.
Last year, Nesta’s 100 Day Challenge launched in Liverpool. Here we, Nesta and Liverpool City Council reflect on the project.
The second of the Power to Change High Streets webinar series on 14th October investigated the issue of landownership as one of the principal levers of control for our town centres.
Communications and Partnerships Director Mark Gordon says goodbye to two founding members of the Community Business Panel
Choose Communities: Buy Social will be taking place from 15-17 October and is a chance to raise the profile of the social enterprise movement and the different way of doing business
Power to Change brought together a panel to discuss governance models to enable the formal participation of the community sector in high streets and town centres
A brief update regarding the latest legal requirements for the hospitality sector, to tackle the rise of Coronavirus.
Our unique learning approach, innovation in grant funding and Power to Change’s community business expertise and networks blended perfectly to create this successful partnership and programme: Community Business Trade Up.
Communities Week 2020: an annual celebration of all of the work by people, businesses and organisations to improve their neighbourhoods
Liz Zeidler, Chief Executive of Centre for Thriving Places, explores the role of wellbeing in growing an economy.
Outlining the importance of civil society in post-Covid planning, how that influences and impacts resilient local places, how to build inclusive economies and the future of social care.
On 13-14 August, Power to Change hosted the first ever online Community Business Festival, showcasing community businesses from across the country. You can watch most sessions back here!
With our partners, we have launched a support package for community businesses including a range of activities, from webinars to short intensive programmes for community business leaders to hone their skills and develop peer networks, helping them to continue to play a vital role in their communities
We’re offering 20 free places to help community businesses with their finances
Simon Kaye introduces NLGN’s new project, Shifting the Balance of Community Power
How can community cafes and pubs safely attract customers back through their doors?
As lockdown eases, Steve Sharma considers how communication has changed forever
Charlotte Cassedanne, Head of Communications at Power to Change, shares some tips
Our Policy Manager, Tom Hamilton Shaw, reacts to the Grimsey review
Community Energy England launch Community Energy Fortnight online
This Community Energy Fortnight, Will Walker reflects on the success so far, and what comes next
Vidhya Alakeson writes about the future of high streets post-lockdown for the Financial Times
Kate Stewart takes stock of how we have responded to the COVID-19 crisis within our communities
Rianna Raymond-Williams highlights the work Ubele are doing to support BAME communities
Erika Rushton shares her thoughts on how Liverpool businesses have responded to the crisis
Paul Gutherson reflects on the potential for post Covid-19 recovery in communities.
Hannah Ormston of the Carnegie UK Trust reflects on community asset transfers and how they can strengthen communities
Find out how community businesses can play a key role in harnessing all the goodwill that has been unleashed
Vidhya Alakeson, our CEO, outlines our response
Community business leader Bill Graham reflects on the impact of COVID-19 on community business
What we’re doing to support vital, locally based, frontline organisations
We will be updating this blog as new packages of support are announced by Government
Protecting the most vulnerable in our neighbourhoods
Our CEO Vidhya Alakeson breaks down the budget and what it means for our communities
When you give local people real power, extraordinary things can happen
The final IWD post features a woman who works to improve young people’s lives in Keighley
The third IWD post features one of the founding members of Kitty’s Launderette in Liverpool
In the second IWD post, we spoke to MP Kim Johnson about being a woman in business and politics
To mark International Women’s Day (IWD) 2020, we spoke to the founder of Hackney Herbal CIC
From books to energy, Jonathan Atkinson is well-versed in the world of community business
The Health and Social Care Community of Practice reflect on the role of volunteer coordinators
The community-led regeneration champion reflects on her experiences
Community Business Weekend is an annual, national celebration
Currently, there are 11.3 million adults in the UK lacking one or more basic digital skills
The community business founder and social entrepreneur looks back on her experience
As we celebrate our fifth birthday, we’re outlining the two commitments we’re making this year
CEO Vidhya Alakeson reflects on how the UK’s departure from the EU will affect the sector
For Community Business Weekend 2020, we will be working with ambassadors covering every region
For Rosie Wild, learning about the community businesses working for young people was one of her standout moments of the year
As the dust settles from the outcome of the General Election, Vidhya Alakeson reflects on the result
Community business leaders from around the country look at the potential for health and social care
The development trust specialist reflects on his time working in communities
Next Generation consortium member and partner at Everoze, Felicity Jones, shares her learnings
The community building expert and chief executive of B-Inspired shares her experience
The Rural Community Business Awards celebrates the achievements of rural community businesses
Community energy pioneer shares his wisdom
A blog by Power to Change CEO Vidhya Alakeson
In the run up to Power to Change’s In Our Hands event with Wirral Council, we went on a tour of community businesses in Liverpool City Region!
From Monday 21st October – Friday 1st November, Power to Change will be hosting a community pub crawl #CheersTo on our social media, celebrating the diverse range of activities that take place in community pubs.
It has been a busy party conference season at Power To Change. Our CEO, Vidhya Alakeson, Ailbhe McNabola, Head of Research and Policy, and Richard Harries, Director of the Research Institute sum up their takeaways.
A new guide and webinar, designed to help community businesses understand and work with local government, and see what benefits they can offer to their local authorities
In Communities Week it’s nice to celebrate success stories, and there’s much to give us cheer in a new evaluation report on Power To Change’s More Than A Pub funding programme.
Community business is at the heart of local change and this Communities Week, Power to Change are shining a light on the people who are making their neighbourhoods better places for all.
What it takes for communities to be in the lead of their own health
As high streets continue to struggle, we need to look at alternative ways to ensure they return to being the thriving hubs of local life. Power To Change’s Director of Communications and Partnerships, Mark Gordon, shares thoughts on his recent visit to Levenshulme and how community-led markets could provide a solution.
The Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government has released a new framework that sets how government will strengthen communities. Power to Change Chief Executive, Vidhya Alakeson, shares her thoughts:
Yvonne Field, Founder and Director of the Ubele Initiative, recently shared her learnings at the Jamaican Diaspora Conference on ways to develop the young BME leaders of future community businesses, supported by Power to Change.
A IPPR North/Power to Change long blog by Vidhya Alakeson and Jack Hunter
Discover BUD’s steps in the cycle to become an empowering leader
The fourth edition of Community Business Weekend took place this month from 16-19 May.
Giles Piercy, who is part of Power to Change’s Community of Practice looking at health and social care, shares his thoughts on how integrated care delivery could work with community businesses
Suzanne Perry, Power to Change Research Officer and Hanan Farah, CharityWorks Taster Associate
As Community Business Weekend approaches (16-19 May), Alice Wharton from Co-operatives UK reflects on the importance of community shares as an increasingly popular tool for raising finance.
Inspired by last week’s event which launched the recent report published by Power to Change by the Heseltine Institute at the University of Liverpool, our CEO Vidhya Alakeson discusses the potential for a more inclusive economy through community business in the Liverpool City Region.
Guest blogger Nina Edge, an artist and campaigner from Liverpool 8 reflects on the Power to Change grantee support event in Liverpool on 5th March 2019 where the theme was Health and Wellbeing.
Some of the best romantic gifts and Valentine’s Day activities community businesses have to offer
Community businesses met up to discuss a challenge they face every day
Community business leader Bill Graham explores various views on social prescribing
Bradford and Power to Change are celebrating their first TEDx together this week on 16th of January. Social innovation is the topic of a day long symposium taking place at the Nation and Science and Media museum there to share ideas from Bradford’s most innovative organisations and individuals.
Co-operatives’ Booster Programme Manager, Alice Wharton, explains the methodology behind looking through applications of the programme and details what they are looking for in a community business.
What role can community business play in reimagining the high street? Vidhya Alakeson explores
The top five learnings from our recent state of the community business market report!
The community business movement in Liverpool is taking root, supporting positive change all over the city and showing that the model works and can be replicated.
Read some top tips on setting up a successful community cafe from a successful community cafe in Bristol – Buzz Lockleaze
Want to know more about the M&S Community Business Challenge? Watch this film to get insights from the finalists, as well as from Power to Change and M&S
Taking responsibility for how we can do things differently in health and social care
Some conclusions on the recent People’s Powerhouse Conference in Bradford
Pete Swallow, Head of Merseyside, Isle of Man and North Wales Region of M&S discusses how the importance of developing relationships across businesses is integral to long-term sustainability and in turn, Liverpool’s economic development.
B Inspired in Leicester is a community business working to change Braunstone in Leicester for the better. Health, social care and wellbeing are among the many areas of work B Inspired is involved in. Its work in this area is the topic of this latest blog by its CEO, Angie Wright.
Anya Hobbs from Marsh Farm Futures
Hannah Sloggett’s top tips to breathe new life into the high street
Some thoughts from Anya Hobbs on the potential of Marsh Farm Futures in improving the quality of life for its’ residents through sustainable opportunities.
Here’s why you should head to Bristol next week!
Vidhya Alakeson on what the Budget announcements mean for saving our high streets
Anne Short from B Inspired Leicester discusses the second Power to Change grantee event – Power Up Leicester. Here, she summarises the day and draws some conclusions about how to build cultural change that can see the community business movement begin to flourish.
Charlotte Hollins from Fordhall Community Land Initiative shares her three top tips for launching a community share offer.
Our CEO, Vidhya Alakeson asks the question this party conference season
Angie Wright shares with us her experience of taking the Braunstone Grove into community hands.
Ahead of her talk at the FT’s Investment for Good conference, Vidhya Alakeson sets out the case for investment in community-led housing.
Our CEO, Vidhya Alakeson highlights how we can work closer with communities this Communities Week
Why we’ve launched a podcast
What role can community business play in delivering sustainable social care?
A review of the Power Up! grantee event for community businesses.
What the Civil Society Strategy will mean for community businesses.
Submit your evidence to the House of Lords Select Committee on the rural economy!
A new toolkit to meet the challenges of BME-led community organisations.
The story of a quiet revolution in housing taking place in the unexpected town of Keswick.
The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy has announced it intends to abolish subsidies for new household and community scale renewable electricity technologies. In this blog, Community Business Panel member Afsheen Kabir Rashid, MBE, Co-founder, Director of Repowering London and Chair, Brixton Energy, sets out the case for community renewable energy.
Our Research Officer, Suzanne, attended the launch of Local Trust’s latest research
Why community businesses have a role to play in keeping high streets alive
Our Director of Programmes explains why Power to Change is backing community-run pubs.
Happy Pride from everyone at Power to Change!
Jodie Giles from community energy business Regen explains her four lessons from peer networking
Today we are publishing our 2017 annual report.
With 225 events held, a massive 55% increase from last year, more people are finding out how they can support their local community.
Raise a glass and say #CheersToBeer this Beer Day at your local community pub!
Useful dos and don’ts for community businesses who are starting out.
A consortium of organisations has been working with community businesses to define a positive, inspiring vision for the sector in 2030.
There is money to be made from all that heritage, reflects our Director of Communications and Partnerships, Mark Gordon
How can we make people-powered health the mainstream? Vidhya Alakeson explores…
A podcast exploring some of the ways local people have taken local power by running community businesses
The benefits of communities taking responsibility for their health and wellbeing
How can we change power dynamics in the health sector? Halima Khan explores…
Do community businesses need a stronger relationship with councils?
Join 500 community businesses in England to celebrate community business
Delicious meals with a social justice purpose
Human interaction and emotion will be key to moving beyond a corporate capitalism.
Why people get involved with community businesses
A comparative study of community businesses
Community-led housing in the spotlight
Valentine’s gifts with heart
Vidhya Alakeson looks at the role of communities in creating social infrastructure for a stronger #socialcarefuture
On the occasion of their third birthday, Vidhya Alakeson reflects on the three things she has been most proud of in Power to Change’s early years.
Community-led housing can bring so many benefits
Tips learnt from the Wavelength Conference which all community business leaders should aim to remember.
The history of community business, of course.
Community energy groups cleaned up at the Green Energy Awards 2017.
Highlights from the first ever community-led housing conference
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
What questions should we be asking about community accountability?
Author Steve Wyler reflects on the role history plays for community businesses today
Ged Devlin reflects on the SITR stats
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.
For the third year in a row, Power to Change are sponsoring the Locality Convention
We benchmark all the time. It is just that we tend not to call it that.
Last weekend saw 200+ community business opened their doors for #CBwkd17
Party conference season is a good time to take the temperature of what different parties are thinking
Part-time workers have different needs. It’s important for organisations to support them.
What do communities need if they are to build their own homes?
What do the Labour party, Bernie Sanders and The Bristol Cable, a community-owned newspaper, have in common?
In the last five years, over 120,000 people have invested over £100,000,000 in community shares to support around 400 community businesses throughout the UK, including the Anglers Rest community pub in Bamford
Why doodling on your windows is a trick not to miss for community businesses
Bill Graham reflects on his own successful and unsuccessful moments as the leader of a community business.
9 tips, gleaned from community businesses themselves, to get yourself on the map.
Why Power to Change is opening up its grants data
Victoria shares her experience coming out and the support on offer at her local community business
We need better data on social investment – and we need to make better use of what we have.
It’s Community Centres Week from 19 to 25 July
A new social care system is a prize worth fighting for
Community businesses rely on lots of stakeholders to run successfully. But surely the most important must be the volunteers who help in so many ways.
Is Theresa May prepared to give away power?
People want good homes in the areas they love. Communities can lead the way.
We want to be able to set out the principles for meaningful involvement of members.
The Power of Place was an attempt by five different organisations – Collaborate, Lankelly Chase, Locality, Local Trust, Power to Change
Politicians are in election mode. We must tell them what we care about
Place-based working addresses the unique needs of people in a specific location.
“Discussions must be in-depth, inclusive and sometimes difficult to make things improve.”
Tips and tools from social movement makers at Marmalade ’17
Public trust in media and government has gone down dramatically around the world, and business isn’t doing too well either
Public assets are on the frontline when we decide what we want our communities to look like
How to join people all over the country who are stepping up to help their communities
Power to Change explores community shares and the long history of social lending
It is time for the government to change its role in local communities
Highfields Centre is located in the heart of a vibrant and diverse community and serves over 2000 individuals a week from different cultures and faiths
We’ve been capturing stories from women involved in community business, to celebrate their achievements, and inspire other women to #BeBoldForChange
We engaged Britain Thinks, who polled over 2,000 adults across the country and ran focus groups in London, Liverpool, Sheffield and East Anglia to find out who would want to become involved in a community business
More and more it is up to community businesses and voluntary organisations to deliver social change.
Community businesses give back control to local people
How community business supports mental wellbeing
In our first two years, we funded community businesses right across England, covering every region.
It’s a few weeks now since the Power to Change Research Institute was involved in the first Feedback Labs London event.
We have all unwrapped yet another pair of socks at Christmas. Many of us will have had a goat donated to a needy village in our name.
Read the headlines that accompanied the publication of Louise Casey’s integration review yesterday, and you might believe that we are a country coming apart at the seams.
The total an SITR-qualifying enterprise can raise has now been increased to £1.5m.
Chatter about community-led housing has reached the mainstream in the last week.
As the stock of social housing has dwindled, so community-led housing is creating an alternative route to genuine affordability.
Power to Change had invited Stephen, along with Dr Emma Stone of Joseph Rowntree Foundation, Cathy Irving of the Health Foundation and Dan Corry of New Philanthropy Capital, to share their experience and advice with community groups and community businesses.
As we open the third window of the Community Shares Booster programme, Ged Devlin, Programmes Manager at Power to Change, shares his four top tips to prepare a community share offer.
Naomi Griffith is taking part in our Community Business Leadership Programme; a partnership between Power to Change, RIO and Sheffield University Management School. This support programme for community business leaders combines leadership training and expertise with fast-track connections to experts and industries.
Bad measures make bad data. And bad data is a poor premise for making decisions about expenditure and delivery in social programmes.
Jenny Howard Coles is taking part in our Community Business Leaders Programme; a partnership between Power to Change, RIO and Sheffield University Management School this support programme for community business leaders combines leadership training and expertise with fast-track connections to experts and industries.
Ailbhe McNabola is the Head of Research and Policy at Power to Change. She has 15 years’ experience in research and analysis in policy-relevant fields, having started her career in management consultancy at Accenture. Ailbhe went on to join the team evaluating policy implementation at the UK National Audit Office, and has held a number of consultancy roles in central government departments.
Alice Wharton, is the programme manager for the Community Shares Unit based in Manchester. In this blog post she reflects upon the launch of the first Community Shares Booster Programme, a cooperation with Power to Change.
The Brexit vote is a cry of pain. Millions of otherwise powerless people were given a piece of paper and a once-in-a-generation chance to express their anger and frustration.
Over the next two years, the RSA, in partnership with Power to Change, RIO and Sheffield University Management School, is delivering a leadership programme for community business leaders and will be exploring the unique leadership challenges faced by those leaders.
Over the next two years, the RSA, in partnership with Power to Change, RIO and Sheffield University Management School, is delivering a leadership programme for community business leaders and will be exploring the unique leadership challenges faced by those leaders.
Charlotte Hollins, Manager of community-owned Fordhall Farm, explains why their taking part in Community Business Weekend, and why you should too.
This Saturday is an important day in the history of Hastings. It is the day that their iconic Pier re-opens after years of neglect, disrepair, closure and finally, a disastrous fire six years ago.
As we celebrate the success of community businesses this week and mark the opening of our new £10 million fund to support them, we are sharing blogs from a number of our grantees.
As we celebrate the success of community businesses this week and mark the opening of our new £10 million fund to support them, we are sharing blogs from some of our grantees. Steph Hryschko, Chair of Kiveton Park and Wales Community Develop Trust, tells us how a...
It looks likely now that Port Talbot in Wales will be the latest economic victim of the British declining advanced manufacturing industry, due to Tata Steel’s exit.
Pubs can be so much more than just somewhere to get a drink and socialise; many community pubs also provide vital local services such as a café or post office or shop.
We’re really pleased about the launch earlier this month of our £1 million initiative to support and stimulate community share offers. It is being delivered on our behalf by Co-operatives UK and Locality, via the Community Shares Unit (CSU).
Richard Harries, director of the Power to Change Research Institute, offers his take on George Osborne’s budget yesterday.
Community assets transfers are gathering pace as councils seek to offload maintenance costs. But communities need support and some funding to make them a success says Power to Change Chief Executive Vidhya Alakeson.
Power to Change is one year old today and with a strategy for 2016-2018 under our belt, we have clarified not just our ambitions and activities but also the kind of funding organisation we want to be: one that unleashes community business potential.
It’s been a busy year for Power to Change and a busy year for community business. The sector is growing and the year ended with community business in the national spotlight as Assemble won the Turner Prize for its work with Granby 4 Streets, a community-led housing and regeneration initiative in the Toxteth area of Liverpool.
Regeneration, local pride and preserving a sense of place are just some of the aims community business and heritage buildings have in common that attendees of the Industrial Heritage 2015 conference are discussing today and tomorrow.
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.
Since launching the Initial Grants Programme in May, we are proud to have committed over £3.75 million in funding to community businesses across England and to be on course to meet our target of £9 million by the end of the year.
Bamford Community Society was set up in 2011, when 300 members of the rural Bamford community clubbed together to buy their local pub to prevent its closure.
Vidhya Alakeson, CEO at the Power to Change, reflects on the recent budget and what it means for our communities.
Bob Thust, our Director of Community Business Programmes, highlights a Telegraph article about people in the Yorkshire town of Otley, who have successfully listed all 19 of the town’s pubs as assets of community value (ACVs), giving them protection at a time when 29 are closing each week across the country.
The Power to Change was established in response to the decline of high streets and the retreat of the public sector.
The Power to Change is a brand new charitable trust, set up to support community businesses across England.