Abstract
The Empowering Places programme aims to build more resilient communities by catalysing and nurturing community businesses to provide benefits and opportunities for local people. The programme funds locally rooted ‘catalyst’ organisations in six places – Wigan; Leicester; Bradford; Plymouth; Grimsby; Hartlepool – to help empower communities to develop community businesses. This evaluation looks at the success of the programme using three key markers – “Better Community Business”; “Stronger Communities”; and “Better Places.