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.
Powering Up diversity, equity and inclusion reports

Powering Up diversity, equity and inclusion reports

These interim and final reports outline the diversity, equity and inclusion approach taken during the Powering Up programme.
Powering Up final evaluation

Powering Up final evaluation

This evaluation report presents the findings of Renaisi-TSIP’s evaluation of the Powering Up programme, a collaborative and innovative programme working to support the growth of community businesses, funded by Power to Change.
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Our reports

News and views

Our latest thinking and updates on high streets.

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.
Building resilience through digital and climate skills

Building resilience through digital and climate skills

Our thinking
In an increasingly complex and interconnected world, community businesses face significant challenges around digital transformation and climate change, impacting their sustainability and effectiveness. Recognising these critical areas of support, Power to Change developed Powering Up, a targeted programme dedicated to strengthening community businesses by building essential capabilities in both digital innovation and climate action.
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Get inspired

Stories of the power of accessible and flexible finance

Sister Midnight

Sister Midnight

The young women on a mission to establish Lewisham’s first community owned live music venue.
Three Seas

Three Seas

Three Seas is helping to tackle the housing crisis in Cornwall by developing old coastguard cottages into affordable long-term rental accommodation for local people.
People Dem Collective

People Dem Collective

From a living room meet up to plans to take over a five-story building, People Dem Collective are proudly taking up space in Margate.
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More community business stories