We are here to inform better policies
For policy makers who need insight and a connection to communities on the ground.
All the latest news, blogs and case studies from Power to Change, making the case for community businesses, designed to inspire and inform.
The latest news
for policy makers
Tax-cut heavy Spring Budget lacks critical investment in communities
The Chancellor’s budget announced some funding for communities but does not go far enough to support local...
Levelling up perspectives from the community to the national level
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...
New Dormant Assets provide urgently needed investment to tackle social issues
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...
New research explores solutions for building resilient communities and tackling geographic inequalities
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....
New support for community businesses facing cost of living crisis
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...
Communities in Stoke-on-Trent are taking back control of their high street
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...
Local people reliant on community businesses for basic support services
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...
Two thirds of people favour community power to restore trust in politics compared to just half for House of Lords reform
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...
Five new Community Improvement Districts created in bid to save England’s struggling high streets
The second tranche of Community Improvement District pilots have been announced as part of a pioneering new initiative....
Tim Davies-Pugh appointed new CEO of Power to Change
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...
INSIGHTS AND RESEARCH
FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY
Power to Change’s plan to take back the high street
The Labour Party has recently published its plan to save the high street. But what’s missing, and how can Labour drive a community powered revolution on our high streets?...
Powering up Britain
Last week Labour announced their answer to the levelling up agenda. What role can community business play in powering up...
Creating inclusive community spaces on our high streets
When it comes to regenerating our town centres, Community Improvement Districts aim to amplify the voices of community led organisations and residents, bringing them into partnership with businesses, councils and property owners, says Chris...
Spring Budget 2023 Analysis: Unexpected wins, but ongoing challenges for community business
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Driving Hendon’s high street revolution
High street regeneration is a complex picture, but Back on the Map in Sunderland are piloting a Community Improvement District - convening a broad and inclusive local partnership to ensure regeneration efforts...
Supporting the social economy through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund: a guide for lead authorities
This guide has been prepared to help combined authorities and local authorities to utilise their UK Shared Prosperity Fund allocations to support the local social economy. It draws on forthcoming Power to Change research, and we will update it with new...
Space for community: strengthening our social infrastructure
The social fabric of a community is important for weathering challenging times. How can government support the growth of important community spaces for people to gather and...
Meet the Makers and Maintainers in community tech
The Community Tech: Makers and Maintainers fund focuses on building resilience of existing community tech already in use by community businesses across England. Meet the latest cohort and learn more about the...
New hope for communities in the year ahead
Speeches last week from Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer offered some hope for communities in what will be a very difficult year ahead. We dive into what this means for community...
A community response to global issues
We are deeply concerned about the impact of the cost of living and energy crises on community businesses and the vital services they provide to their communities. As communities respond to these crises, we are here to support...
FIND INSPIRATION
FROM OUR LATEST CASE STUDIES
Heeley Trust
Sheffield-based charity, The Heeley Trust, owns and manages multiple community-owned spaces across Heeley and Meersbrook as well as community bike shop, A Different Gear....
Witton Lodge Community Association
Community anchor organisation in Birmingham, providing over 200 affordable homes for local residents. They transformed derelict land into useable green space and turned the old park keepers cottage into an eco community facility, reducing energy costs by...
Fordhall Farm
England's first community-owned, chemical-free farm in Shropshire. Educates on sustainable farming and supports local communities....
Derwent Valley Car Club
Electric car club in County Durham tackling rural isolation and environmental...
Heart of BS13
Anchor community organisation tackling climate change and socio-economic issues in a deprived area of Bristol...
Ambition Community Energy
England's largest community-owned wind turbine powering over 3,000 homes in Lawrence...
The Winch
Once a derelict pub, repurposed by residents into a thriving youth centre, community hub and...
Bristol City Funds
In 2018, Power to Change joined forces with Bristol and Bath Regional Capital, Big Society Capital, and Bristol City Council to create and co-fund a first-of-its-kind blended fund for...
Empowering Places
Empowering Places was a unique five-year programme designed by Power to Change to explore ways in which ‘locally rooted’ anchor organisations, operating in areas of high deprivation, could be supported to ‘catalyse’ new community businesses. The...
Kindred in Liverpool City Region
In 2019, we teamed up with Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and local social economy leaders to form Kindred, an independent CIC providing repayable, interest-free money to...
Our approach to research
What next for communities?
The renewal of communities
At Power to Change, our mission is to strengthen community businesses to tackle some of society’s biggest challenges at a local level, including the three biggest challenges of our time: climate change, digital transformation and social inequalities.