Today, the government announced a £61 million new fund to help communities buy the places they love. As our Director explains in the video, the Fund will help local people use the new Community Right to Buy.👏 But it’s doubtful that this funding will be enough to meet community demand.

It was brilliant to see 100 people join our webinar on building community-powered neighbourhood governance today. From popular assemblies to community covenants, we heard how local people are coming together to decide what changes their neighbourhoods need, and bring those changes to life. 🧵1/2

Last chance to sign up to our webinar on putting communities at the heart of neighbourhood governance. 🗓️ Tomorrow: Wednesday 3 June ⏰ 11am BST Register your place: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/building-n...

New report explores how communities across the country are rebuilding connection, trust and hope from the ground up. The report, published by @demos-uk.bsky.social & @uclpolicylab.bsky.social, argues that communities are not a barrier to change, but the foundation of it. demos.co.uk/research/a-n...

If communities were in the driving seat, what would new neighbourhood governance look and feel like? Join us and Community Organisers to explore what community-powered neighbourhood governance could look like in practice. * 3 June * 11 am BST * Register: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/building-n...

Last week, we explored what real place based change looks & feels like at Common Ground: A National Convening for Place Based Giving. Our key message: local people must be at the heart of change in their areas. Thanks @londonfunders.bsky.social for inviting us to speak. Photo credit: Musa Bwanali

Why are life-changing community projects stuck in cycles of short-term funding and constantly having to prove their worth? Creative Voices helps older LGBTQ+ adults in Leeds overcome isolation and find friendship. Yet its future remains uncertain. An interview:

Hate can feel loud right now. But it isn’t the full story. The #MillionActsOfHope campaign puts a spotlight on the people and communities bringing hope to their neighbourhoods, just when we need it most. Swipe through the images to see what hope means to our community leaders & champions.

In a glittery room full of hope and laughter, we celebrated community power in Greater Manchester last week. 💛 It was a night where we chose hope over division, joy over despair — and hope came dressed up in feather boas and party hats! Thanks to our brilliant co-hosts @greatermcr.bsky.social.

New event: What would it look like for communities to have real power in shaping their neighbourhoods? We’re hosting a webinar with Community Organisers exploring what community-powered neighbourhood governance could look like. * 3 June * 11 am BST * Register: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/building-n...

Taken from last year's @powertochange.org.uk @uclpolicylab.bsky.social @right-here.org essay collection. If Burnham does end up PM, and he gets his hands on Westminster power, let's hope those devolutionary tendencies remain.

Right now, a new approach to neighbourhood governance is being shaped in Whitehall. Let’s make sure communities are in the driving seat. 📝 We're sending a letter from the #CommunityPower movement to the Minister overseeing the new arrangements. Will you join us? actionnetwork.org/petitions/si...

“What would help Creative Voices flourish is long-term belief as much as long-term funding.” Minoti Parikh, Founder of Creative Voices, discusses precarity and the need for sustained belief in the value of community work. Read her interview:

Read what our campaign leaders make of the new English Devolution & Community Empowerment law. We're sending a letter to the Minister urging her to put community power at the heart of new neighbourhood governance arrangements. Will you add your name? ✍️ actionnetwork.org/petitions/si...

“It's for forever.” That’s how our campaign leader described the power of community ownership to the BBC. But this win is slightly bittersweet. For the new Community Right to Buy to work for all communities, the Government needs to back it up with funding and support. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Today, the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill passed into law. It’s a major milestone for our campaign. Here's what it does, and doesn't, deliver for community power. 1/6 🧵

Across Greater Manchester, we put postboxes in community spaces and asked local people to post a dream for their community. Change starts by dreaming of something different, something better. Part of the Museum of Community Futures exhibition with #GMLiveWell. storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/7448...

We’re entering a new chapter of our campaign, and we want to shape it with you. What should our campaign prioritise? Where can we have the greatest impact? Take our survey by 17 April and help shape the future of community power: ✍️ locality.tfaforms.net/284

For five years, @right-here.org has been pushing for community power and with the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill passing into law this year, momentum is growing. What should the campaign prioritise in the next phase? Share your views by 17 April ➡️ locality.tfaforms.net/284

Every day, across every community in the UK, people are showing up for each other. From 13–20 May, ‘A Million Acts of Hope’ is bringing these everyday acts together - showing that care, connection, and community are stronger than divisive headlines. Learn more and take part: millionactsofhope.org

New events announced for Big Local Unpacked: a learning series developed by @londonfunders.bsky.social and @localtrust.org.uk, exploring what 15 years of community-led change can teach us about future funding and practice. Learn more and register your place: londonfunders.org.uk/latest/event...

Today, we’re publishing two new guides on adopting the #KeepItLocal approach to transform health services. We’re exploring how the NHS can shift toward a prevention-focused “neighbourhood health service” by working with communities. (1/3)

Yesterday, we held a workshop with partners old and new to explore how we can claim the future for community power, together. We reflected on how far we’ve come, where we are now, and how we can come together to build a stronger movement. 🧵1/4

When community spaces across Bolton were closing their doors, one boarded-up church, which had stood empty for 25 years, bucked the trend. After years of campaigning, local people brought the building back to life. Read more about All Souls Bolton in the Museum of Community Futures: arcg.is/1bWTv11

Since our campaign launched 5 years ago, the conversation on community power has evolved. We’re entering a new chapter of our campaign, and we want to shape it with you. What should our campaign prioritise? Where can we have the greatest impact? 👉 Take our survey: locality.tfaforms.net/284

Last week, at the “Community Powered Neighbourhoods" event in Manchester, Annoushka Deighton warned against relying on repeated community consultations that often end without meaningful action. She called instead for stronger rights & powers to support community leadership & action. #GMLiveWell

When Trafford Council planned to sell Stretford Public Hall to private developers, local people stepped in. ✋ Now it's owned by a community benefit society backed by 800+ residents. See the full story in the Museum of Community Futures: www.right-here.org/museum-of-co...

Last chance to visit the Museum of Community Futures in Manchester. Inside, you’ll find stories of communities across Greater Manchester transforming their places. * Thursday 19 March 10:00–23:00 * Friday 20 March 10:00–18:00 * Saturday 21 March 10:00–18:00

An unloved park is now home to a thriving community hub. How did local people make it happen? From the Big Local programme to becoming a charity and Live Well Centre, see CommUNITY Little Hulton’s journey in the Museum of Community Futures. www.right-here.org/museum-of-co... @localtrust.org.uk

We have some big news for Greater Manchester’s VCSE Sector 🙌 We're proud to announce £16.5 million is coming to Greater Manchester’s VCSE sector to protect, grow and celebrate these spaces. Because communities are at their strongest when people have somewhere to come together.💛 🔗 lnkd.in/eXg2nMid

Do you have a dream for your community? As part of the Museum of Community Futures, we’re inviting you to share what you'd like to change in your neighbourhood. Post an idea in the Community Dream postboxes in Manchester’s Live well centres, or take part online: www.right-here.org/museum-of-co...

When some women from the African community in Manchester faced abuse and trauma, they found it difficult to trust the support services on offer. A community-led response called 'Angels of Hope' offered an alternative. Explore the Museum of Community Futures: www.right-here.org/museum-of-co...

The Museum of Community Futures shares powerful stories of local people across Greater Manchester defying the odds to achieve extraordinary change in their places. 📆 12–14, 19–21 March 📍Factory International & online A Joint exhibition with @greatermcr.bsky.social www.right-here.org/museum-of-co...

Communities must be given the right to own environmental assets like rivers, woods & peat bogs Thanks to @jenny4suffcoast.bsky.social & other MPs for writing this letter to Ministers, urging them to amend Community Right to Buy rules whilst there's still time: www.wildlifetrusts.org/sites/defaul...

What happens when a community’s dream is backed – not blocked – and becomes reality? From 12 March, the Museum of Community Futures opens in Manchester, sharing stories of local people turning ideas into action. Explore in person & online: www.right-here.org/museum-of-co... @greatermcr.bsky.social

Lord Lucas urged the government to rethink its decision to close the Community Ownership Fund, recognising how it helped communities buy the places they love. The new Community Right to Buy needs to come with funding and support so it’s truly accessible and can work for communities everywhere.

In Parliament, Lord Mawson shared how a community plan to improve a local park was derailed by a change in government. It’s a reminder that goodwill isn’t enough. We need neighbourhood governance that embeds community power so no matter who's in power, communities have a lasting seat at the table.

A new report from @ipprnorth.bsky.social, supported by @localtrust.org.uk, argues that unitarisation must go hand-in-hand with reviving local democracy. We strongly support its call to establish inclusive neighbourhood boards with 50%+ community representation.

Support is building for community‑led models of neighbourhood governance. Labour councillor Sam Dalton shares why locally rooted decision‑making must be central to the UK’s democratic renewal 👇 @right-here.org

Final push: the English Devolution & Community Empowerment Bill is in its last stages. Can you take 2 minutes to write to the Minister asking her to back more community power over shaping services, controlling investment, & influencing decision-making?

Our 8-part blog series exploring how to shape new neighbourhood governance arrangements has come to a close. Part of the Devolution Bill, these structures will shape how power works across England. Get them right, and communities thrive. Get them wrong, & power stays distant. A reading list 🧵1/10

In his @labourlist.bsky.social piece, councillor @sam-dalton.bsky.social argues that community-powered neighbourhood governance should be the centrepiece of a wider agenda to redistribute power. "Democracy would become a lived, everyday practice."

In the final blog of our series, @localis.bsky.social argues that: “If binding routes for community power are not hard-wired alongside local government reorganisation, England risks simply redrawing centralisation into a new network of local Whitehalls.“

A community in Bolton had to send people halfway across the world to access care that should have been available on their doorstep. Read the story behind Recover Bolton and the importance of inviting local people to co-design and co-run services: www.right-here.org/addiction-se...

What would it take to build a health system focused on prevention, rooted in neighbourhoods and led by communities? @locality.org.uk argues that new neighbourhood governance arrangements need to enable local people to have a real say in local healthcare decisions. www.right-here.org/participator...

We had a great time hosting yesterday’s panel talk on shaping community-led neighbourhood governance with the @coopparty.party.coop at The Labour Party and @local.gov.uk Labour Group Conference. Read 6 insights from our 6 panellists in the thread. 🧵 1/8

“It’s centralisation on steroids.” @unlockdemocracy.bsky.social criticises the Government’s devolution plans for falling short – but sees potential in new neighbourhood governance arrangements, provided they reflect and serve truly local communities. www.right-here.org/neighbourhoo...

How can community-powered neighbourhood governance help rebuild trust in one of the most contested areas of local decision-making: planning and development? Read our guest blog by @tomchance.bsky.social, Chief Executive of the Community Land Trust Network.

After 15 years of #BigLocal, @localtrust.org.uk has built deep insight into what works in unlocking community power and neighbourhood-level change. In a new blog, they set out how new neighbourhood governance arrangements could draw on those lessons. www.right-here.org/what-big-loc...

In the third blog in our series, NAVCA makes the case that strong local VCSE infrastructure will be essential if new neighbourhood governance arrangements are to succeed across the country. Read the blog, written by Rich Warrington: