New paper from @ippr.org explores what the loss of pubs, parks, youth clubs and other third spaces means for social connection and solidarity, and how it can give rise to the radical right. Read in full here: www.ippr.org/articles/pla...

"The 10 Year Health Plan will set out how the government plans to rebuild the NHS and tackle widening inequalities in people’s health through fundamental reforms to our health system" www.gov.uk/government/n...

Eastside Community Trust responds to Where People Meet - our latest report on the future of community centres. They make the case brilliantly for investing in these vital spaces that "anchor communities, foster connection and improve wellbeing". eastsidecommunitytrust.org.uk/local-issues...

What does it mean to sustain change? I had a great time at the Place-based Systems Change Community of Practice meeting hosted by Renaisi. We talked about the risks of not sustaining change for places & communities – from broken trust and relationship breakdown to reverting to the status quo.

Yesterday was my third time at #StrongerThings, but my first time on stage. It was great to be involved in a workshop on the future of community centres, talking through the findings of our latest research (more here 🔗 www.newlocal.org.uk/publications...).

ICYMI this is an excellent report👇 There's few more important building in neighbourhoods than the community centre. "Community centres have long stood as pillars of local life, as places where people can meet, mix and connect; where care, fun and friendships bloom and problems are shared."

“There is one policy option open to the Government which would lay the groundwork for a deep shift in how public investment secures better outcomes”. @jydenham.bsky.social‬ & @jesstud.bsky.social‬ set out 5 reasons the Government should launch Total Place 2.0.

New report reveals stark regional inequalities in high street decline - calls on govt to work with communities to restore local amenities & rebuild pride. Particularly welcome proposals to incentivise third spaces where people can gather as part of transition to more resilient forms of high street.

Really important piece mapping health outcomes against voting patterns. In some regions, people can only expect to live in good health until their early fifties. It is in these same places where people have the lowest trust in government. www.ft.com/content/4594...

"Spaces like community centres are not a ‘luxury’, but a must have if we want to see communities across the country thrive". Samuel Kirkby runs the Sutton Centre - a vibrant community centre in Bradford. He reflects on the importance of physical assets for communities.

Delighted by @mattleach.bsky.social’s response to Where People Meet - our new report on the future of community centres. "The report offers a vision for the future that’s refreshingly grounded. Not utopian. Not flashy. But deeply real." www.raynefoundation.org.uk/where-people...

Some thoughts sparked by a great event in Leeds yesterday on neighbourhood health and the UK government's Test, Learn and Grow intiative. How do we make neighbourhoods engines of change? medium.com/@jamestplunk...

Jason Stockwood has written a thoughtful piece in the NS reflecting on losing the Greater Lincolnshire Mayoral race. This bit in particular I agree with.

🧵 Our democracy is in poor health. Trust in political parties and government has hit a new low. But we think there's a different way forward 👇

"community centres need to be recognised as a core part of the essential infrastructure of a place" - @summersimpson.bsky.social shares insights from @wearenewlocal.bsky.social report. With recommendations for local gov, policymakers & funders. www.newlocal.org.uk/articles/the...

"When a community centre is thriving, it is both a place where people can meet their basic needs and somewhere that adds colour to people’s lives". @summersimpson.bsky.social introduces our new report and its key ideas.

It’s a very big day for me – @wearenewlocal.bsky.social launches Where People Meet: Where People Meet: How We Celebrate, Sustain and Reimagine Community Centres. www.newlocal.org.uk/publications...

The aid cut is so depressing. I know it's politically popular but it's going to cause an enormous amount of harm. It's deeply frustrating that we've never found a way of explaining why it matters to UK voters even though it really does.

We're not even bowling alone any more... www.theatlantic.com/magazine/arc...

With the Devolution White Paper expected imminently and Starmer's 'plan for the change' this week, now is the time for government to show it's serious about empowering communities.

REPORT 📑 | We know that a torn social fabric lay behind the disorder this summer. Our new paper explores community cohesion, empowerment and growth in response to the riots across the UK. Quick read here or see thread 👇 www.powertochange.org.uk/evidence-and... [1/7]

In the run-up to the election, Labour talked of producing a national cultural infrastructure map. In this blog for Culture Commons, we set out some thoughts on the practicalities of mapping out cultural infrastructure. www.culturecommons.uk/post/cultura...

The starter pack you have been waiting for: the local government policy and practice crew 🥳 This list of folk engaged in local innovation, ideas & commentary includes people in non-political roles both in and broadly “adjacent” to the sector… go.bsky.app/VBM66q7

I've created a "Communitarians" starter pack. Might be of interest to followers of: @renewaljournal.bsky.social @morganj0nes.bsky.social @hopenothate.bsky.social @anthonypainter.bsky.social @mds49.bsky.social @sundersays.bsky.social @jesstud.bsky.social go.bsky.app/H5rQDgh

How can community power unlock our fraught planning system? Really pleased to have worked on this new research from @wearenewlocal.bsky.social arguing that the government's bold housebuilding targets are at risk unless the planning system gives communities more power to shape local development.

I fear this part of the Darzi report already risks getting lost - but it is absolutely key. If we want to avoid another lost decade for the NHS, we have to invest in the wider public sector and all the other things that make up the wider determinants of health.

"Too many people end up in hospital because too little is spent in the community." Lord Darzi puts our catastrophic health trade-off in blunt terms in his NHS review. But what would a community-powered NHS look like? And where is it happening? Take a look: www.newlocal.org.uk/publications...

We sketched out some early thoughts on this with Demos, Jo Cox Foundation, Oxfam, We're Right Here, Citizens UK, Locality, Our Future, Jon Alexander, @neweconomics.bsky.social @chinemcdonald.bsky.social: www.theguardian.com/society/arti...

Calling all folk with an interest in UK public policy: I’ve created a starter pack of think tankers, policy analysts & commentators active on @bsky.app go.bsky.app/LtNiL1o