COMMUNITY POWER 🎇 | 'In precisely the places that the market shuns, and where the state is often distrusted, community businesses offer a different route to revitalising a place.'

Josh Westerling for Joseph Rowntree Foundation on community business tackling hardship ⤵️
jrf.org.uk/neighbourhoods…

Devolution and community power to drive economic growth, yes.

But more importantly, to help us overcome our democratic deficit. Too often, this is an afterthought in devo debates.

This Arianna Giovannini Unlock Democracy Compass report is great. compassonline.org.uk/publications/p…

👥 Community businesses that are locally rooted, trading and reinvesting profits back into the community have a role to play in building resilience and retaining wealth in communities.

📖 Read more from Josh Westerling of Power to Change: jrf.org.uk/neighbourhoods….

New Local Here’s the link to our New Local paper: A Labour Vision for Community Power, co-authored with seven council leaders including Georgia Gould Bev Craig Kaya Comer-Schwartz Peter Mason Cllr Kieron Williams and in partnership with Local Trust & Power to Change newlocal.org.uk/publications/l…

Labour's plan is good, but for communities to #TakeBackTheHighStreet we need:

✅ A strong Community Right to Buy
✅ A level playing field with business rates
🤩 A British High Street Investment Vehicle
🤩 More Community Improvement Districts

Our plan👇
powertochange.org.uk/news/labours-h…

Institute for Fiscal Studies Nuffield Foundation helengou Last year, we worked with The British Academy @PeoplesBiz & Bennett Institute for Public Policy to deepen understanding of #SocialInfrastructure and support policymakers, civil society leaders and communities strengthen it to meet current & future challenges. 3/3 Read our findings👇bit.ly/3J852GO

We’re officially open for (social) business! Kindred money is now available for socially-trading organisations💸 If you’re an STO and interested, download our money guide and find out how to get involved here 👉
#socialinvestment #socialtrade #kindred2024
kindred-lcr.co.uk/wp-content/upl…

Want proof of why a Community Power Act would make a difference?

Just ask the people fighting for positive local change, in a system that's too-often working against them.

right-here.org/asks

Last chance to join We're Right Here: the campaign for community power as a Community Champions - part of the movement for community power ⭐

Apply by Monday 15 April 👇

right-here.org/become-a-commu…

🚀 We're pleased to join 35 orgs & alliances in the Financial Times, calling for Government to make recommended changes, boosting private investment in the UK to tackle pressing social issues.

Read our joint letter Financial Times ⬇️
ft.com/content/56472e…

#UKEconomy #GeneralElection

BLOG 📝 | Josh Westerling writes on Labour's relationship with #LevellingUp . How can we really empower communities to power up Britain? ⤵️
powertochange.org.uk/news/powering-… #CommunityPower

. Royal Greenwich council appoints #coops commission look at #cooperative options for #public services & ways to work with communities. Commission includes Nick Plumb of Power to Change, Claire Pritchard of GCDA & Rich Mason of London Ownership Hub

👇

thenews.coop/177011/topic/p…

🎉The National Lottery Community Fund has just announced the first £12million of grants through its UK Fund - to empower communities across the UK. Excellent friends & allies have been supported. The fund is open for applications on an ongoing basis 👇

🌐 Future Economy Alliance has unveiled a powerful Business Plan for Britain to reshape our economy for the better 🌿It champions social & environmental impact alongside profits, ensuring a stronger, fairer, & greener UK. We're proud to be part of this partnership 🌟
Read more👇

Please support our crowdfunder ahead of the #GeneralElection to make fixing our economy a real priority in the next Parliament and beyond.

Donate now: buff.ly/4bQgB2f

Small venues are under threat from planning rules and the perils of a system that values only the big and the profit-driven.

I support a levy on large venues to support small businesses and also more focus on community ownership. Everyone should feel invested in local culture!