Stir to Action and Power to Change partner to relaunch 20 webinars for free to support communities

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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.
4 May, 2020

Now in its second year, Stir to Action’s New Economy Programme is a national series of workshops and three-day residentials that offer capacity-building training for local communities, democratic businesses, third sector organisations, and activists.

As the COVID-19 crisis unfolded and the distancing measures were put in place, Stir to Action wass been compelled to redevelop its programme and deliver the remainder of its workshops online.

Through the £15,000 partnership with Power to Change, Stir to Action announced the NEP webinars can now be offered for free for three months as part of its ongoing commitment to deliver training and support for communities.

The NEP webinar series is facilitated by activists and community leaders from 13 additional organisations from the sector with topics ranging from everyday participation and making community leadership work, to community housing raising finance and reinventing the high street: Practical Governance, Far Nearer, Loomio, Cornwall Council, Co-op Culture, New Citizenship Project, Wessex Community Assets, New Economics Foundation, The Social Change Agency, Shared Assets, Commonly, Transition Network, and Principle Six.

Jonny Gordon-Farleigh, Founding Director of Stir to Action, said: “The COVID-19 crisis is an unprecedented economic disruption for communities and the democratic business sector, often working in places that bring the community together to create livelihoods, reduce isolation, and meet local needs.

“We believe that democratic ownership creates a culture of agency, self-determination, and dignity. Our work is designed to create the enabling conditions for people and communities to meaningfully participate – in many different capacities – within their own places of work and residence.”

Fergus Arkley, Development Manager at Power to Change, said: “We need to explore alternative means to help strengthen the skills and capacity of communities during the coronavirus crisis. Shifting the New Economy Programme to a digital format and including relevant topics in light of current challenges is a great opportunity to do this.

“We’re really pleased to be supporting Stir to Action, as we have for the past two years, engaging with over 50 activists and practitioners to harness the community business approach to make positive change in their community.”

Space is limited to 20 on each webinar, and to two webinars per person, so early booking is advised. See the full webinar programme and register at www.stirtoaction.com/webinars

Ends

Notes to Editors

Four more webinars will be added to the schedule for July delivery.

Stir to Action is looking to attract additional funding to further develop its NEP webinar series, as a valuable resource and opportunity for people to access training designed to make specific interventions into a particular issue, e.g. loss of assets, digital economy, and youth unemployment. 

About Stir to Action

Stir to Action is building a new economy based on democratic ownership through national workshop programmes, strategic economic development, and a quarterly magazine, focusing on how democratic business can create the conditions to transform social inequality, climate change, mental health, and our political culture. 

Since 2013, Stir to Action has worked with thousands of individuals and organisations to create a social and economic movement through its new economic magazine, national workshop programmes, and community development projects. We’ve hosted a national conference, organised art exhibitions, launched technology accelerators, offered training grants, and even brewed craft beers, all to support the new economy. Over this time we’ve built an active community of new economy practitioners, trainers, policymakers, and local organisers.

www.stirtoaction.com  @stirtoaction

For more information please contact: workshops@stirtoaction.com

Media contact:

Abby Gordon-Farleigh

abby.farleigh@gmail.com

07904434590

About Power to Change

Power to Change is the independent trust that supports community businesses in England. 

Community businesses are locally rooted, community-led, trade for community benefit and make life better for local people. The sector owns assets worth £890m, and comprises 9,000 community businesses across England who employ 33,600 people. (Source: Community Business Market 2019)

From pubs to libraries; shops to bakeries; swimming pools to solar farms; community businesses are creating great products and services, providing employment and training and transforming lives. Power to Change received its endowment from the National Lottery Community Fund in 2015.

www.powertochange.org.uk @peoplesbiz

For more information please contact: press@www.powertochange.org.uk

About The National Lottery Community Fund

We are the largest community funder in the UK – we’re proud to award money raised by National Lottery players to communities across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Since June 2004, we have made over 200,000 grants and awarded over £9 billion to projects that have benefited millions of people.  

We are passionate about funding great ideas that matter to communities and make a difference to people’s lives. At the heart of everything we do is the belief that when people are in the lead, communities thrive. Thanks to the support of National Lottery players, our funding is open to everyone. We’re privileged to be able to work with the smallest of local groups right up to UK-wide charities, enabling people and communities to bring their ambitions to life.