Repository
A curated and searchable collection of community-related research reports, case studies and publications from the Institute for Community Studies and other organisations.
Civic universities and climate education
Published: 2025
A review of literature and evidence, alongside case study examples, to understand the state of climate education in England.
Universities and ‘economic placemaking’
Published: 2024
This review highlights universities as drivers of local employment and spending, assessing the importance of supporting social mobility, graduate retention, and innovation.
Society, culture and locally-connected universities
Published: 2024
Examining universities’ social and cultural contributions to their communities, discussing the impacts of student volunteering, and how universities are supporting local arts and culture.
Shaping sustainable universities
Published: 2024
This report explores how universities can contribute to a just transition to net zero by reducing carbon emissions, sharing knowledge, and supporting local initiatives.
Healthy universities, people and places
Published: 2024
A review exploring how universities can contribute to student, staff, and local community wellbeing.
Community ownership: A better form of business 2024
Published: 2024
‘A Better Form of Business’ is a series of research reports on community-owned businesses that have been completed annually by the Plunkett Foundation since 2011. The reports offer evidence on the needs and health of the community business sector, trends in growth and services, and the important social, economic and environmental impact tha…
Our journey to net zero: Understanding household and community participation in the UK’s transition to a greener future
Published: 2024
Our new report warns the government’s existing net zero transition policies are likely to make the poor poorer, and push struggling communities further into deprivation and exclusion.
This research – which was funded by the Nuffield Foundation and developed with the University of Leeds, University of York and Trinity College Dublin – f…
Community Ownership: A Way Forward for Wales
Published: 2024
This report evidences community needs and evaluates existing policies and legislation in Scotland and England, identifying strengths and weaknesses to provide lessons for future “community rights” in Wales. This research was commissioned and funded by Building Communities Trust (BCT) and undertaken by Plunkett Foundation.
Community Ownership: A better form of business 2023
Published: 2023
‘A Better Form of Business’ is a series of research reports on community-owned businesses that have been completed annually by the Plunkett Foundation since 2011. The reports offer evidence on the needs and health of the community business sector, trends in growth and services, and the important social, economic and environmental impact tha…
The Role of Community Energy in a Just Transition to Net Zero
Published: 2023
This policy report highlights the support needed from government, local authorities, electricity systems operators, and funders to unlock the potential of Community Energy Businesses (CEBs) in achieving a Net Zero future.
Conceptualising socially inclusive environmental policy: a just transition to Net Zero
Published: 2023
The policy area addressing the climate crisis in the UK, ‘Net Zero’, will affect many aspects of people’s everyday life. Given that policy builds from where we are now, which for some (post austerity, and mid cost of living crisis) means in financial crisis, there is work to be done in enabling a socially inclusive Net Zero. In this artic…
Community Businesses and Climate Action
Published: 2023
Over the past six years, Power to Change has become one of the largest funders of community climate action in England, with over £25m of funding and investment supporting climate action in more than 450 community businesses.
To ensure Power to Change’s work is underpinned by robust evidence, the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) …