Repository
A curated and searchable collection of community-related research reports, case studies and publications
Coordinating community business infrastructure
Published: 2021
As part of the ongoing evaluation of Power to Change’s market development work, this paper examines the strategic relationships between Power to Change and infrastructure bodies which support and represent community businesses. The work was completed by Rob MacMillan at the Centre for Regional Economic Social Research (CRESR) at Sheffield Hal…
Empowering Places: The programme model and emerging impact
Published: 2021
The Empowering Places programme funds locally rooted ‘catalyst’ organisations in six places, over five years to empower communities to develop community businesses. Through the development of new community businesses, the programme aims to provide benefits and opportunities to local people and create more resilient places.
The program…
Enablers and barriers to delivering place-based change through the Empowering Places programme
Published: 2021
The Empowering Places programme funds locally rooted ‘catalyst’ organisations in six places, over five years to empower communities to develop community businesses. Through the development of new community businesses, the programme aims to provide benefits and opportunities to local people and create more resilient places.
The programme, d…
Left Behind Survey
Published: 2021
Conducted by Survation on behalf of Local Trust.
You can find more reports written or commissioned by Local Trust here.
Minoritised Ethnic Community and Social Enterprises
Published: 2021
Access – The Foundation for Social Investment (Access), The Social Investment Business (SIB) and Power to Change (collectively – the partners) wished to collectively improve their understanding of how well they currently serve the needs of minoritised ethnic communities, specifically relating to the provision of enterprise develop…
Rapid research COVID-19 Briefing #13: Community responses to COVID-19 – Community hubs as social infrastructure
Published: 2021
Community hubs, halls and centres are a core component of the ‘social infrastructure’ of places, and they have come into their own during the pandemic. They provide direct practical and emotional support for people, enable people to stay connected, and also have a symbolic significance for communities. This briefing examines the role they h…
Towards resilience: Building energy systems with community at their heart
Published: 2021
COVID-19 has brought into sharp focus the fragile state and deeply interconnected nature of the critical systems we rely on for our health and prosperity. Our energy system is a case in point; the pandemic has underscored that existing top-down, centralised models of energy supply and management are not a good fit for the future.
You can find…
“Why don’t they ask us?” The role of communities in levelling up
Published: 2021
This report by the Institute for Community Studies reveals that current approaches to regeneration and economic transformation are not working for the majority of local communities and their economies.
Its key findings are that:
Interventions have consistently failed to address the most deprived communities, contributing to a 0%…
Community business infrastructure: A literature review
Published: 2021
Power to Change commissioned this work by Rob MacMillan at Centre for Regional Economic Social Research (CRESR) at Sheffield Hallam University. The literature review assesses the evidence base on the role and value of support for community businesses, and aims to assist Power to Change in understanding the importance of existing infrastruc…
Homes In Community Hands – Year 2 Evaluation Report
Published: 2021
Power to Change’s Homes in Community Hands (HCH) programme provided grants to help build and refurbish affordable housing. Specifically, the programme supported the development of community-led housing (CLH) in England where – between 2019 and 2021 – up to £5.8 million in funding was made available. These funds have been predominantly target…
Now they see us: Communities responding to COVID-19
Published: 2021
The study is based on primary data collection from 26 communities across England and a literature review. Over 500 learning conversations have taken place with members of the community, activists and workers, alongside interviews with Big Local reps (individuals appointed by Local Trust to offer tailored support to a Big Local area and sha…
Smaller charities, SORP and issues of financial accounting and reporting
Published: 2021
This research is concerned with the use and impact of the Charities SORP on smaller charities across the three jurisdictions of the UK (England and Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland). The report is structured around eight core research questions, with the findings from each research method synthesised to produce answers to these questi…