What we do

Financing the future economy

The right kind of finance – at the right time – can ultimately make or break the success of community businesses.

When there is affordable, flexible and accessible finance available, community businesses can thrive. Using the breadth of our learning and experience, we advocate for more affordable, flexible, and accessible finance for community businesses. We leverage investment into the community business sector through working in partnership. And we invest in new financial models to increase the sustainability of the community business sector, testing ways to break the cycle of grant dependency.

We shape the conditions for the future economy – a fairer economy that works for people and planet. To do this, we influence decision-makers – from funders to regional authorities – to grow the social economy and shape finance that works for everyone.

Want to work with us? Contact our Practice and Innovation Manager, Natalie White.

Email Natalie

Current projects

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Community Shares Booster

The Booster Fund supports new and existing community businesses in England that are at all stages of a community share issue.

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Energy Resilience Fund

This finance enables community businesses to retrofit energy-generating or saving technology on community-owned or managed buildings, with a focus on stabilising or reducing energy costs.

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North East Flexible Social Finance fund

The Flexible Social Finance fund for the North East provides community businesses and other socially trading organisations across the region access to the flexible and tailored finance and support they need to thrive.

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Trading for Good

Trading for Good will support you to develop your community business through a specialist programme of support. This includes a Match Trading™ Grant and a learning programme that will support you to develop trading income streams and build a resilient community business.

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Current and past projects

Resources for community businesses

Whether you’re wanting to start a community business or looking to do something different for your community, we have resources and tips that can help. Including resources and funding opportunities from our partners.

Explore our resources

Research and reports

Evidence on why accessible and flexible finance works for communities

The economic contribution of community business

The economic contribution of community business

There have long been gaps in quantitative evidence around the unique economic contribution that community business makes. This new research provides an estimate of the total economic contribution made by community businesses to the national economy. It highlights the different ways, to whom, and where community businesses drive economic benefits locally.
The community business market in 2024

The community business market in 2024

Our first bi-annual report on the community business market shows the positive impact they continue to have on local communities, other businesses, and their high streets.
Resilient Communities Fund: A review

Resilient Communities Fund: A review

The Resilient Communities Fund provided emergency support as quickly as possible to community businesses, to support them to implement energy resilience projects to become more resilient to both climate change and the cost-of-living crisis.
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Our reports

News and views

Our latest thinking and updates on high streets.

Five high street innovators join new learning partnership

Five high street innovators join new learning partnership

News
Community-Led High Street Innovators invests in community-led action to revitalise high streets and town centres across England.
Equity and inclusion in community business support

Equity and inclusion in community business support

Our thinking
The Powering Up programme placed equity and inclusion at its heart, recognising the additional barriers faced by minoritised and racialised communities. This blog shares key lessons from our approach, from simplifying access and embedding culturally competent support, to building trust through lived experience and continuously evolving the programme design.
Community business is a catalyst for growth and cohesion

Community business is a catalyst for growth and cohesion

Our thinking
Our latest research on the economic contribution of community business illustrates the key role they play in economic growth. But their value goes beyond economic measures, playing a vital role in fostering connection, social value, and resilience in our communities.
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More insights

Get inspired

Stories of the power of accessible and flexible finance

Bristol City Funds

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 Bristol.
Revved Up

Revved Up

A community business for young people, designed by young people. Revved Up provides employment opportunities alongside engaging activities for local young people.
Friends of Stretford Public Hall

Friends of Stretford Public Hall

After saving a cherished Victorian grade II listed ballroom through a community share offer, Friends of Stretford Public Hall have transformed the space into a vibrant community hub. They've now set their sights on helping the community have more say over their town centre's regeneration, including through participation in our Community Improvement District pilot.
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More community business stories