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Power to Change

@powertochange.org.uk
3.2K followers 1.2K following 898 posts

We are the think-do tank that backs community business. We turn bold ideas into action so communities have the power to change what matters to them. powertochange.org.uk

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Power to Change @powertochange.org.uk · 29/09/2026
The Civic High Street Collective has a new look 🎉 Join our LinkedIn community to share inspiration, learn from others and discover examples from mixed-use civic high streets across the country 👉 www.linkedin.com/groups/42479014/
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We're Right Here @right-here.org · 29/09/2026
As politicians chat in the Labour Party Conference rooms far from the communities they serve, we brought the two worlds closer together through the Community Power Bus. 🚌 Community spaces are essential infrastructure, not optional extras. The next stop for devolution has got to be community power.
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UCL Policy Lab @uclpolicylab.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Then rounding off with a rousing discussion on Power and Place with @powertochange.org.uk. Come hear from the Rt. Hon. Angela Rayner MP. Followed by an in conversation with @roswynnejones.bsky.social and Liam Kelly from Make CIC on how to put power in the hands of communities.
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Gavin Freeguard @gavinfreeguard.com · 27/09/2026
What's next for communities policy? ask @powertochange.org.uk, Coop Party, Park Street Partners of @nickplumb.bsky.social @joplatt.bsky.social @florenceeshalomi.bsky.social, Fin Irwin Lots on empowerment, doing with & not to communities; Nick on devo agenda needing to go the final mile to postcodes
Panel (left to right): Nick Plumb, Jo Platt MP, Fin Irwin, Florence Eshalomi MP
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Power to Change @powertochange.org.uk · 28/09/2026
Want to see the civic high street in action? 👀 This autumn, the Civic High Street Collective is hosting study visits in Bristol, Sunderland and Hastings. Join us to explore inspiring examples of community-led high streets and connect with peers. 🧵👇
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Study visits | Civic High Street Collective - Power to Change
Register your interest to join a visit to Bristol, Sunderland or Hastings to see the civic high street in action.
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Power to Change @powertochange.org.uk · 24/09/2026
5 practical steps for govt to unlock a resilient high street that goes beyond retail: 1️⃣ Tackle vacancy through new ownership models 2️⃣ Support councils to use existing powers 3️⃣ Improve data transparency 4️⃣ Reform meanwhile-use 5️⃣ Help communities move from temporary to long-term use 👇️ buff.ly/wxV1j8d
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Briefing: The civic high street - Power to Change
Our civic high street briefing offers recommendations for how government can deliver a transformative High Street Strategy, using policy and investment to d ...
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Power to Change @powertochange.org.uk · 23/09/2026
Communities with the power to shape their places are what creates resilient #highstreets and connected communities that can flex and respond to challenges. Join us at Party Conferences 2026 to explore how communities can play a bigger role in shaping places, public services & local economies👇
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Party conferences 2026: - Power to Change
Find out how we’re backing community business at Labour, Liberal Democrat, and Green Party conferences in September and October 2026.
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Power to Change @powertochange.org.uk · 22/09/2026
📣 Heading to #LabourPartyConference? Join us for A symbol of a British renaissance: the civic high street. Delighted that Leigh Ingham MP will be joining the panel alongside Chris Curtis MP, Laura Onita (FT), Jo Cooper (Back on the Map), chaired by @jesscraig.bsky.social 👇️ buff.ly/oS3VrwF
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A symbol of a British renaissance: the civic high street
Across the country, communities are bringing high streets back to life. What will it take to make the civic high street the norm, not the exception?
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Power to Change @powertochange.org.uk · 17/09/2026
How we talk about our high streets is changing. There's growing recognition that retail alone cannot save our town centres, but that civic-led high streets can foster the connection and community we need. More in September's newsletter, including ways to get involved. 👉️ bit.ly/4rhIPuV
People walking on a high street. Text: September's community business news, opportunities, and more.
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Power to Change @powertochange.org.uk · 17/09/2026
Today, the PM is championing community power in an announcement of nearly £30m of funding for People’s Power projects. More on this from @nickplumb.bsky.social 👇
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Power to Change @powertochange.org.uk · 15/09/2026
Learn from organisations leading community-powered regeneration on the ground. Join one of our three study visits in collaboration with the Royal Society of Arts. You could visit: 🏬 Artspace Lifespace in Bristol 🏬 Back on the Map in Sunderland 🏬 Hastings Commons in Hastings buff.ly/Qfv5AHC
powertochange.org.uk
Study visits | Civic High Street Collective - Power to Change
Register your interest to join a visit to Bristol, Sunderland or Hastings to see the civic high street in action.
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Power to Change @powertochange.org.uk · 14/09/2026
The #CommunityRighttoBuy showed what's possible when communities, campaigners and policymakers work together. So what's next for communities policy? Join us at #LabourPartyConference to discuss the next big ambition for community power. 📅 27 Sept, 4-5pm buff.ly/XlUT1AN
powertochange.org.uk
Party conferences 2026: - Power to Change
Find out how we’re backing community business at Labour, Liberal Democrat, and Green Party conferences in September and October 2026.
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Power to Change @powertochange.org.uk · 11/09/2026
🏘️ Communities are bringing struggling high streets back to life. But what will it take to make the civic high street the norm, not the exception? Join us at #LabourPartyConference to discuss the future of our high streets. 📅 27 Sept, 1-2pm buff.ly/XlUT1AN
powertochange.org.uk
Party conference events 2026: - Power to Change
Find out how we’re backing community business at Labour, Liberal Democrat, and Green Party conferences in September and October 2026.
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Power to Change @powertochange.org.uk · 10/09/2026
Do you imagine high streets that are designed around community life, not just retail? Join us in Westminster to celebrate the growing movement for the civic high street and connect with people driving change across the country. Sign up 👇👇 buff.ly/xJIzMZK
powertochange.org.uk
Westminster Reception | Civic High Street Collective - Power to Change
Join us in Westminster for an evening reception celebrating the growing movement for the civic high street.
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Power to Change @powertochange.org.uk · 09/09/2026
How can communities breathe new life into the spaces and heritage of our high streets? Join us at #FLIPIM for our High Street Innovators panel, exploring how communities are bringing empty and overlooked spaces back into use through creativity and local action. 🎟️ Register: bit.ly/4yhjHqx
Poster for “High Street Innovators” panel at Wish Upon a Party, featuring Kate McKenzie, Kathryn Chiswell Jones, Louise Cross and Chris Hill.
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Power to Change @powertochange.org.uk · 09/09/2026
Party conference season is nearly here, and the Power to Change team will be at #LabourConference, #Green, and #LibDem conferences, bringing community business voices into conversations about high streets, local power and communities policy. Join us at en event 👇 buff.ly/XlUT1AN
powertochange.org.uk
Party conferences 2026: community power from the margins to the centre - Power to Change
Find out how we’re backing community business at Labour, Liberal Democrat, and Green Party conferences in September and October 2026.
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Power to Change @powertochange.org.uk · 08/09/2026
See the civic high street in action! We're running study visits to #Bristol, #Sunderland and #Hastings with the RSA as part of the Civic High Streets Collective. Learn from community-powered regeneration projects on the ground. Bristol EOIs close 14 Sept: buff.ly/Qfv5AHC
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Power to Change @powertochange.org.uk · 07/09/2026
Today's Arguably on why #highstreets need more than retail. A mixed-use civic model built around community, services and local identity is exactly the direction of travel. Great to see our Property Holding Vehicle proposal featured too ⬇️ bit.ly/4zUUvbf
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How to reinvent the British high street
Why town centres need beetroots, bowling alleys and botox
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Power to Change @powertochange.org.uk · 04/09/2026
Our Autumn events explore how communities can shape and regerate our places: 📍 Party Conferences 2026: We'll be at #Labour #LibDem #Green 📍 Civic High Street Collective study visits to #Bristol #Sunderland #Hastings 📍 Civic High Street Collective Reception in Westminster Explore: bit.ly/46LRLiJ
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Community Shares Unit @comshares.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
Free online training: Community Shares Finance Guide - managing community share capital. Next Thursday online, book now! www.uk.coop/events-and-t...
uk.coop
Training: Community Shares Finance Guide - managing community share capital
A session for societies using community shares capital to understand their legal responsibilities, and how to manage their members financial investments.
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Power to Change @powertochange.org.uk · 03/09/2026
👀 Haven't read our August newsletter yet? We explore what Andy Burnham's latest proposals could mean for #highstreets, and why giving communities genuine power over regeneration is essential to creating places that work for local people 👇 bit.ly/4zPHVty
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Communities at the heart of the high street 💛
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Power to Change @powertochange.org.uk · 02/09/2026
We all want a neighbourhood we feel proud of. We welcome the announcement of a new high street taskforce to 'explore more radical ideas to revive crumbling high streets' & look forward to working with Andy Burnham's government, combined authority mayors & councils to regenerate local high streets ⬇️
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Burnham blames Brexit and Thatcher for ‘wrong turns’ in first Commons speech as PM
The prime minister said Britain needed to be brutally honest about the mistakes of the last 40 years of UK politics
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Power to Change @powertochange.org.uk · 25/08/2026
What's the mood across the #communitybusiness sector right now? Explore the latest Pulse Survey results, from confidence levels to relationships with government and local impact. 👇 www.powertochange.org.uk/what-we-do…
powertochange.org.uk
Community Business Pulse Survey - Power to Change
Bringing partners together to champion a mixed-use, civic model where high streets are reimagined as places for local se
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We're Right Here @right-here.org · 27/08/2026
3 in 5 people say it’s important to be able to influence decisions affecting their local area. But most of us have no say over what happens in our places. @nickplumb.bsky.social from @powertochange.org.uk argues that devolution must push power to communities: www.politicshome.com/opinion/arti...
politicshome.com
Devolution must go even deeper
Our data shows there is political ground to be won in not stopping at mayors and regions.
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Power to Change @powertochange.org.uk · 25/08/2026
What's the mood across the #communitybusiness sector right now? Explore the latest Pulse Survey results, from confidence levels to relationships with government and local impact. 👇 www.powertochange.org.uk/what-we-do…
powertochange.org.uk
Community Business Pulse Survey - Power to Change
Bringing partners together to champion a mixed-use, civic model where high streets are reimagined as places for local se
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Rachel Coldicutt @rachelcoldicutt.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
It makes zero sense for AI Growth Zones to be planned in isolation from the neighbourhoods strategy - there needs to be a through line that delivers local benefits. Without that, I'm pretty sure we're going to (justifiably) see more local action against data centres and decreasing trust in tech
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Nick Plumb @nickplumb.bsky.social · 24/08/2026
Late to this FT editorial from last week. Pleased the paper is increasingly of a similar view to @powertochange.org.uk and those working with us on the idea of the Civic High Street.
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Power to Change @powertochange.org.uk · 24/08/2026
Devolution shouldn't stop at mayors and regions. Three in five people say it's important to influence local decisions, but 84% feel they have little or no control. @nickplumb.bsky.social for @politicshome.bsky.social on why power must go deeper into communities ⬇️ bit.ly/4qwhZPq
politicshome.com
Devolution must go even deeper
Our data shows there is political ground to be won in not stopping at mayors and regions.
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Power to Change @powertochange.org.uk · 20/08/2026
NEWSLETTER 🗞️ | Last week, Andy Burnham announced plans to help councils & communities reject unwanted shops in town centres. We welcome this, but there's more work needed to create thriving, resilient high streets. Our latest newsletter has ideas on getting this right 👇 sbrew.link/dPogkaRl
Newsletter header reading “August’s community business news” above a photo of people at an outdoor community market.
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Nick Plumb @nickplumb.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
New Community Engagement Survey findings are out (replaces Community Life Survey and DCMS' Participation Survey). Regional differences between people's perceived ability to influence decisions affecting their local area. Significant gap between London and the NE.
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Power to Change @powertochange.org.uk · 11/08/2026
🧵Big day for our high streets today. Our high streets policy experts @jesscraig.bsky.social @nickplumb.bsky.social joined community business leaders in Ilkeston to speak with Andy Burnham and Angela Rayner about why communities must have a meaningful say in shaping the future of their #highstreets.
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Power to Change @powertochange.org.uk · 11/08/2026
🧵 In addition to today’s national announcement, on #highstreets, we're pleased to see #Manchester Mayor Bev Craig announce a £20m Good Growth High Streets Fund alongside a new High Streets Taskforce. bit.ly/4hZRShx
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Mayor unveils plans to revitalise Greater Manchester high streets with new £20m fund
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Power to Change @powertochange.org.uk · 11/08/2026
"We’re not going to get anywhere with our #highstreets until we start trusting the people who know them best. That’s what today’s announcements are all about. We’re giving local people a bigger say in the type of shops that can open in their communities." 💬 @andyburnham.bsky.social
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Power to Change @powertochange.org.uk · 11/08/2026
We welcome today's announcement - and the emphasis on giving communities a real say in how their neighbourhoods, #highstreets and shared assets are run. We know this is key to a high street that builds pride, connection, and serves local need: bit.ly/4wq4gv5
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Burnham to give councils more powers to block vape and betting shops
Vape shops in England and Wales to need planning permission while betting shop law change will also apply in Scotland
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Power to Change @powertochange.org.uk · 10/08/2026
A mixed-use civic #highstreet, centred on community life, can help deliver visible, tangible renewal. But action is needed to scale this model and make it the norm. The Civic High Street Collective brings together practitioners and decision-makers to realise this vision of high streets.
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Co-operatives UK @cooperativesuk.bsky.social · 06/08/2026
📖 The report also announces the next chapter, with a new dedicated investment fund for community shares launching later this year. 🤩 🔎 Read the report 👉️ buff.ly/z2bOJJj #Comshares #CommunityOwnership #Coops #CommunityBusiness #BenComms
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Co-operatives UK @cooperativesuk.bsky.social · 06/08/2026
🎉 Read our new report celebrating 10 years of the @comshares.bsky.social Booster Fund’s huge impact in kick-starting community regeneration. The report shows how community shares have helped people across England save local assets, boost localities & build stronger local economies.🧵 (1/5)
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Power to Change @powertochange.org.uk · 07/08/2026
We're hosting a panel discussion at this year's FLIPIM 2026: The Grassroots Regeneration Conference, run by Make CIC. Our panel will be under the theme Regeneration, High Streets and Heritage! Sign up ➡️ makecic.org/events/flipim-2026-the-…
makecic.org
FLIPIM 2026 - THE Grassroots Regeneration Conference
Join us for a day of ideas, panels, and workshops, and we’ll hear from lesser heard voices alongside those who hold powe
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Power to Change @powertochange.org.uk · 06/08/2026
Community businesses prove what’s possible on the high street. They restore historic buildings, create meaningful spaces for connection, and deliver ambitious mixed-use developments. Yet behind these successes lies a constant struggle to piece together funding and navigate complex systems.
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Power to Change @powertochange.org.uk · 05/08/2026
💰 Friday's announcement to give mayors a share of income tax is important, but communities need power too. Our recent blog set out the case for stronger community ownership and investment from city hall to city square.⬇️ bit.ly/4w4Hdpe
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The missing pieces of Burnham’s place-first politics - Power to Change
The first test of Burnham’s first 100 days in office will be whether his devolution agenda reaches beyond strategic auth
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@TJChambers @tjchambers.bsky.social · 04/08/2026
Polly McKenzie @kinship.works: How To Save The British High Street @powertochange.org.uk | @financialtimes.com (SubReq) www.ft.com/content/f438...
ft.com
How to save the British high street
Communities need help to tackle the blight of delinquent landlords who let empty properties decay
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Power to Change @powertochange.org.uk · 29/07/2026
BLOG ✏️ | What if our #highstreets were shaped not just by retail, but by community life, local enterprise, culture & care? Across the country there are promising examples; the challenge is not proving that the model works, but pulling together to realise the vision ⬇️ bit.ly/3Ro2MTD
powertochange.org.uk
Welcome to the Civic High Street Collective - Power to Change
Across the country community, public and commercial actors are already demonstrating a successful civic model for high streets and town centres. The challen ...
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Power to Change @powertochange.org.uk · 22/07/2026
Devolution can move power closer to places. But is it moving it closer to people? Andy Burnham's first few days have put place-first politics centre stage. But it will only work if we shift power from beyond Whitehall & city halls, all the way down to communities: buff.ly/UiBezRU
Graphic for a Power to Change blog: “The missing pieces of Burnham’s place-first politics,” over a photo of a man presenting in a meeting room.
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Power to Change @powertochange.org.uk · 28/07/2026
⏲️ Last chance for #SocialClubs to apply to 21st Century Social Clubs, a Stir to Action programme supported by Power to Change. Part of our essential social infrastructure, social clubs enable people to come together & have a democratic say in their local area. www.21stcenturysocialclubs.com/
21stcenturysocialclubs.com
21st Century Social Clubs
We are a national movement revitalising Britain’s social clubs. By backing these democratic hubs for belonging and new ideas, we empower them to tackle society’s biggest challenges and strengthen the ...
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Power to Change @powertochange.org.uk · 23/07/2026
Read @jesscraig.bsky.social for @labourlist.bsky.social, setting out why a Minister for High Streets would give #highstreets - as the most visible barometer of local prosperity or decline - the political salience they deserve. Read here: labourlist.org/2026/07/a-minister-f…
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We're Right Here @right-here.org · 22/07/2026
We stand ready to work with the new PM’s team to help build the “radical culture shift” he called for, one that, in his own words, “puts communities at the heart of everything.” 🧵3/3 www.ucl.ac.uk/policy-lab/s...
ucl.ac.uk
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We're Right Here @right-here.org · 22/07/2026
Just last year, Andy Burnham wrote in our joint essay collection with @powertochange.org.uk and @uclpolicylab.bsky.social: “People don’t want more promises from on high. They want to be part of something. They want to be seen, heard, and trusted.” 🧵2/3
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We're Right Here @right-here.org · 22/07/2026
In a recent LinkedIn post, @andyburnham.bsky.social set out his intention of putting power into the hands of local communities. Now he's Prime Minister, we’ll be campaigning to ensure he lives up to his word. 🧵1/3
Andy Burnham's LinkedIn post where he says: "I want to do things differently, to put power back in the hands of local communities and build an economy that works for everybody."
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Power to Change @powertochange.org.uk · 22/07/2026
Andy Burnham says he'll deliver ‘good growth in every postcode & hope in every heart’, promising change from the ground up. But governing is hard & economic pressures are real. @jesscraig.bsky.social has written for Renewal this week on what it will take to keep that vision of hope & growth alive 👇
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Power to Change @powertochange.org.uk · 22/07/2026
NEWSLETTER🗞️| We've got a new Prime Minister - but what will it take to deliver good growth in every postcode? We've captured the initiatives that must be at the heart of national renewal. Explore our July edition 👇 bit.ly/4yx1YfJ
A person in a pink shirt stands in front of display boards with neighborhood maps and diagrams, engaging with others around them. The setting appears to be an event or exhibition. A logo in the corner reads "Power to Change."
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