Repository
A curated and searchable collection of community-related research reports, case studies and publications
The role of HEIs in the climate action agenda
Published: 2022
This report considers the role of Higher Education Institutions in the climate action agenda. It explores how universities are responding to the ‘net zero’ challenge, how they are protecting and preparing places and communities from climate impacts, and how they might extend a ‘civic’ approach that works in partnership with other local …
Understanding the financial impact of Power to Change’s grant funding on community businesses
Published: 2022
This research paper emerged from the need to better understand the financial impact generated by Power to Change’s investment in community businesses. In other words, several years after Power to Change’s investment, what has the financial impact of each programme been on its grantees? The paper draws on previous work that identified the va…
Big Local relationships with public agencies
Published: 2022
Local Trust commissioned this research to understand relationships between Big Local areas and the four most common types of public agencies they were connecting with: local authorities, housing associations, schools and health agencies.
The research will be of interest to public agencies and people working in communities who want to achieve l…
Evaluation of Keighley Community Health
Published: 2022
GiveBradford and Power to Change have come together with the aim of creating a community led health offer in Keighley, a town in Bradford, the Keighley Community Health (KCH) grants programme. This has aimed to improve health outcomes for people in Keighley by supporting both community groups and community businesses to engage with social presc…
Residents in control: Community grants in Big Local areas
Published: 2022
The Institute for Voluntary Action Research was commissioned by Local Trust to undertake research on community grants. The research explored conditions for successful community grant making and the benefits community grants bring to Big Local areas.
While this report has primarily been written for Local Trust, it may also provide learning for …
The role of small grants in Big Local: scoping paper
Published: 2022
This paper aims to summarise what Local Trust knows about the small grants funds operating in Big Local areas. Research done in June 2020 found that 140 out of 150 Big Local areas were either currently running a small grants programme or had run one in the past. Small grants funds typically aim to provide money to groups operating at the grassr…
Volunteering and Big Local: Who volunteers in Big Local communities, what they do, and why
Published: 2022
Big Local is a resident-led funding programme providing groups of people in 150 areas in England with £1.15m each, to spend across 10 to 15 years to bring about lasting change in their neighbourhoods. In Big Local areas, resident-led partnerships identify local priorities and decide how the money will be spent in their areas.
This report is a…
Young people in community business: Stories of change
Published: 2022
This report showcases the many ways young people came to be and are involved in community businesses across England. It shows that young people are involved in community skate parks, media companies, pubs, energy and many other types of community-led enterprise. Their engagement ranges from senior leadership, founders and co-founders, boar…
“We need a Right to Buy, not to try”: How more urban communities can take ownership of their pub
Published: 2022
This publication explores how and why more urban community pubs could be developed in urban areas, and the policy changes and support needed to achieve this.
The report considers the opportunities and challenges facing groups looking at community ownership of a pub in urban areas. It also reviews the policy landscape and operating environment …
Helping community businesses be more resilient – Lessons learnt from the Trade Up programme
Published: 2022
One of Power to Change’s three strategic priorities for 2021-2025 is ‘more resilient community businesses’. This paper explores whether the Trade Up programme – designed to support the growth of community businesses and being delivered between May 2017 to March 2022 – made community businesses more resilient. Findings show that while diff…
How can funders support established community businesses? Lessons learnt from the Community Business Fund programme
Published: 2022
Power to Change funded the Community Business Fund (CBF) programme between 2016 and 2021 to support existing community businesses to progress towards greater self-sufficiency by increasing their trading income, securing an asset and / or significantly reducing revenue costs. This short evaluation report outlines the impact that the programme ha…
How can funders support early-stage community businesses? Lessons learnt from the Bright Ideas programme
Published: 2022
Power to Change funded the Bright Ideas programme between 2016 and 2021 to support community groups to develop, test and launch their community business ideas. This short evaluation report outlines the impact that the programme had on community groups and early-stage community businesses, and recommends ways in which funders can support them go…