Repository
A curated and searchable collection of community-related research reports, case studies and publications
The Civic Journey: introducing the idea
Published: 2023
The Civic Journey is a transformational two-year youth-led programme that was launched in September 2021. Against a backdrop of increasing evidence concerning social polarisation and community fragmentation, the programme focuses on illuminating and unleashing the civic potential of young people to reinvigorate communities, identify innovative …
Lessons in community-led housing
Published: 2023
In 2017 Power to Change launched its Homes in Community Hands programme, to support community led housing (CLH). Focusing on five urban areas across England, the programme has helped plan and develop individual housing projects, develop enabler organisations, and capitalise other investment and funding mechanisms. These three reports summarise …
Third Sector Trends in England and Wales 2022: Full suite of reports
Published: 2023
Third Sector Trends has been running since 2008. The study has been surveying the sector every three years since 2010 and as such is the largest survey of the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector in England and Wales.
In 2022, 6,071 responses were received across England and Wales (an average of ~600 responses in each region). Des…
How can events help build connected, happy and thriving communities?
Published: 2023
This inquiry was set up on the tenth anniversary of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games in order to learn the lessons of past events and to identify how we can capitalise on the power of events to facilitate and encourage wider social and economic change.
Chaired by Sir Tom Hughes-Hallett, the Inquiry’s 25 members have taken evidenc…
Space for community: strengthening our social infrastructure
Published: 2023
The British Academy and Power to Change commissioned the Bennett Institute for Public Policy and the Institute for Community Studies to undertake two related research projects. The first of these explored examples of international policy interventions that aim to strengthen social infrastructure to draw out learning for UK policymakers. The sec…
Communities doing it for themselves: Celebrating a decade of the Community Shares Unit
Published: 2023
It has been a decade since the Community Shares Unit launched in 2012 with over £210 million raised using this unique form of finance. This report aims to provide a detailed and inspiring update on the community shares market while celebrating key milestones, innovations and learnings over the last ten years.
Community perceptions of social infrastructure
Published: 2023
‘Social infrastructure’ is a phrase often used by policymakers and academics to refer to those spaces – both physical and digital – that people use to come together. In its 2021 report, Backing our Neighbourhoods, Power to Change, the independent trust that strengthens communities through community business, made the case for a more coh…
Durability in the community business sector
Published: 2023
Durability – concerning the conditions and qualities community businesses might possess to enable their long-term operation in a community – is thought to play an important role in the success and sustainability of the community business sector. This report summarises findings from a desk-based review of 18 publications commissioned by Powe…
Evaluation of the Next Generation programme for Community Energy – innovation Year 3
Published: 2023
Year 3 report and summary findings about the innovation strand of the Next Generation programme for community energy businesses, by Power to Change. The report covers the processes used and impacts, as well as sharing learning from the programme for the benefit of community groups, policy makers and other community energy stakeholders.
Evaluation report: Next Generation peer mentoring scheme
Published: 2023
This report was prepared by CAG Consultants on behalf of Power to Change as part of the evaluation of the Next Generation programme. It provides an evaluation of the peer mentoring scheme that was implemented as part of the Next Generation programme, with a view to informing future peer mentoring initiatives in the community energy sector.
Only Reconnect
Published: 2023
A report of the ‘Reconnection Summit’ that took place in October 2022. The summit was organised by the Institute for Community Studies andTPXImpact, in partnership with Engage Britain and its ‘Grassroots Advisory Network (a group of community activists and leaders from across the UK who act as advisors on the work of Engage Britain and identify…
Policy spotlight 1: How social infrastructure improves outcomes
Published: 2023
A report on the importance of neighbourhood-level social infrastructure in building strong, cohesive and prosperous communities.
You can find more reports written or commissioned by Local Trust here.