Rob Macmillan

One pandemic, many responses

Repository entry 1 July 2022

This is the third report from Local Trust’s research study exploring how 26 communities across England responded to the COVID-19 crisis.

It follows Strong than anyone thought, published in September 2020, which looked at the initial lockdown period and Now they see us, published in August 2021, which saw the communities adapting to a…

Rapid research COVID-19 Briefing #15: Community responses to COVID-19 – Changing community needs and looking to the future

Repository entry 1 November 2021

The pandemic has been accompanied by a searching analysis of its multi-faceted challenges, uneven consequences and intensifying social needs. Looking ahead, it is thought that a ‘long shadow’ of impact will be cast over the coming ‘COVID decade’. But how are needs experienced at community level identified and understood? This briefing a…

Volunteering in community business: meaning, practice and management

Repository entry 1 September 2021

This report attempts to fill in some of the gaps in understanding what volunteering means in practice in a community business context. Through a wide-ranging qualitative study, researchers from the Centre for Regional Economic and Social Research explore how volunteering is conceptualised and managed, the role and influ…

Coordinating community business infrastructure

Repository entry 1 August 2021

As part of the ongoing evaluation of Power to Change’s market development work, this paper examines the strategic relationships between Power to Change and infrastructure bodies which support and represent community businesses. The work was completed by Rob MacMillan at the Centre for Regional Economic Social Research (CRESR) at Sheffield Hal…

Rapid research COVID-19 Briefing #13: Community responses to COVID-19 – Community hubs as social infrastructure

Repository entry 1 August 2021

Community hubs, halls and centres are a core component of the ‘social infrastructure’ of places, and they have come into their own during the pandemic. They provide direct practical and emotional support for people, enable people to stay connected, and also have a symbolic significance for communities. This briefing examines the role they h…

Community business infrastructure: A literature review

Repository entry 1 July 2021

Power to Change commissioned this work by Rob MacMillan at Centre for Regional Economic Social Research (CRESR) at Sheffield Hallam University. The literature review assesses the evidence base on the role and value of support for community businesses, and aims to assist Power to Change in understanding the importance of existing infrastruc…

Now they see us: Communities responding to COVID-19

Repository entry 1 July 2021

The study is based on primary data collection from 26 communities across England and a literature review. Over 500 learning conversations have taken place with members of the community, activists and workers, alongside interviews with Big Local reps (individuals appointed by Local Trust to offer tailored support to a Big Local area and sha…

Rapid research COVID-19 Briefing #10: Community responses to COVID-19 – Striking a balance between communities and local authorities

Repository entry 1 March 2021

This briefing draws on research with five local authorities in England to examine how relationships between communities and local government have played out during the COVID-19 pandemic. It draws attention to a complex and interlinked response to the crisis from communities and local councils, founded upon a consistent and collaborative approac…

Rapid research COVID-19 Briefing #9: Community responses to COVID-19 – Communities and local authorities

Repository entry 1 February 2021

The varied ways in which local authorities have worked with communities in response to COVID-19 is of great interest for policymakers, researchers and practitioners at the local level. Earlier research on this topic can provide helpful frameworks and insights to inform current debates. This briefing looks at literature on the relationships betw…

Rapid research COVID-19 Briefing #8: Community responses to COVID-19 – The role and contribution of community-led infrastructure

Repository entry 1 December 2020

Briefing 7 identified community-led infrastructure (CLI) as an additional dimension of the structures and systems that support civic life, alongside social and voluntary sector infrastructure. This paper takes this a step further by exploring what CLI looks like on the ground, how it is supported and its role in responding to crises, such as th…

Network Support: Community business peer networking before and during coronavirus

Repository entry 1 November 2020

Power to Change supports and promotes community businesses both through specific programmes and through wider field-shaping market development. This strand of work aims to build a supportive policy environment and infrastructure for community business to flourish. As part of an ongoing evaluation of the market development work, this paper exami…

Rapid research COVID-19 Briefing #7: Community responses to COVID-19 – Towards community-led infrastructure

Repository entry 1 November 2020

Research on the role of community action during COVID-19 to date has suggested that well-established ‘community-led infrastructure’ (CLI) – that is, networks of residents, community leadership, trust, relationships with agencies, and access to money – can make for an effective community response to COVID-19. This briefing situates CLI i…