Abstract
Empowering Places aims to build more resilient and prosperous communities by building the capacity of local organisations to catalyse and support the growth of new community businesses. It funds locally rooted ‘catalyst’ organisations in six areas of high deprivation. Each catalyst receives up to £1 million (July 2017–December 2022) to support the development of new community businesses in their area. They also get one-to-one support from specialist advisors and have access to a pool of capacity support providers, grant funding and money to award seed grants to emerging community businesses. The report includes an overview of the impact of the programme on the community and the wider place, and highlights what has enabled any changes.