💚Studies suggest grassroots approaches to placemaking have more positive socio-economic outcomes than initiatives developed by non-local stakeholders. It is worth noting that placemaking practices within grassroots contexts are as much about social processes as tangible outputs.

Devoured this read. @privatisethemandem has written a powerfully practical manifesto for communities to buy their buildings through collective ownership and in doing so, build, reimagine and re-invest in spaces, facilities and services that enable neighbourhoods to thrive.

How does culture shape the places we live? ️ Franco Bianchini shares six must-reads, exploring the issues and debates surrounding culture-led regeneration and what ‘success’ really means. culturehive.co.uk/evaluation-lea…

Wonderful to finally visit Granby 4 Streets CLT CLT🏡the neighbourhood is bursting with colour and greenery & brilliant the winter garden is being used as a free to use community space and neighbourhood spare room. Thanks to Heather for showing us round- exciting things to come!

Also popped in to Granby Workshop CIC, great to learn about the no waste manufacturing process and social impact delivered locally

This is just the latest tragic loss as city centres become play grounds for corporate power, asset stripping our future and sucking up wealth to distant places Councils seem powerless to act, but they have a choice. Cities for people or corporate greed theguardian.com/uk-news/articl…

🙌 Locality is calling on the next government to introduce a Community Power Act to strengthen community rights. Read the full manifesto setting out a positive vision of what can be achieved in 10 years’ time if we put communities in charge👀 locality.org.uk/locality-manif…

Fantastic to visit Bruntwood SciTech rooftop meadow in the heart of Manchester this week with Polypipe Civils & Green Urbanisation and learn about smart system rainwater storage and drainage that make green roofs like this not only incredibly low maintenance but reduce peak storm runoff

📢Can anyone recommend mediators who work with non-profits? We’re on the look out for someone familiar with the sector who can facilitate productive conversations

Our Refugee Week Flourish Party is only a few weeks away! 🎉 We’re so excited to be welcoming the Potternewton Park Rollers back to the Roxby Community Garden🌟 They were a massive hit at our Flourish: Harvest event & we can't wait to see what they have in store for us!

This session, led by Nick Mahony and Frances Northop will explore lessons learnt from their work in Barking, London and how important it is for local communities to be fairly represented in regeneration and redevelopment projects. Book here bit.ly/4ccBHaN

Congratulations mafwatheatre.bsky.social on a moving feature in The New York Times 🗞️👏 beautiful insight into the joy and community of Kuluhenna Drama workshops, and testament to the capacity for creativity to empower, unite and heal nytimes.com/2024/06/03/art…

STATEMENT: Dismay as Wapentake on Kirkgate closes. 🔗zurl.co/HC3D

‘Power – inc in the arts – must be distributed, not consolidated centrally. We’ve really got to get past culture’s economic impact too, [and] if the large institution model doesn’t work anymore, what’s next has to be about distributed infrastructure’. Dr Kerry Harker cited 1/2

“We need new alliances, new ideas and new action to collectively address how we can reverse the current decline of small-scale spaces for creativity in Leeds.” Brilliant piece by Dr Kerry Harker in The State of the Arts on the state of Leeds’ cultural ecology thestateofthearts.co.uk/features/lesso…

We’re part of a collective of playful people in Leeds putting on a city side Festival of Play & Creativity. It’s the kind of festival which celebrates the tiniest little moments of playfulness to putting on talks, workshops and happenings. Get involved! 25th Oct -3rd Nov (1/6)

A really valuable report capturing the value and opportunities for scaling and strengthening the Green Social Prescring provision across Leeds. Great to see the fantastic Lincoln Greeners by mafwatheatre.bsky.social featured 👏