Category: Articles

We spoke to some of the leaders speaking on the ‘Doing Community Power’ panel at our Stronger Things event about their big ideas, overcoming doubters, and what they wish they knew earlier.

1st March, 2022

Community Power • Community Voices • Design • Stronger Things

In this crisis-ridden era, Adam Lent argues that a bigger state is needed but it must be a fundamentally different, community powered state.

23rd February, 2022

Climate change • Community Power Campaign • Covid-19 • Politics

The government’s new health white paper sets out steps towards what ‘joined-up care’ will really mean, finally recognising the centrality of place. Claire Kennedy finds much to celebrate, as well as big questions to be answered.

16th February, 2022

Governance • Health and social care • Public Health

A year on from our report about community responses to the first lockdown, some local authorities have made great progress at working with community groups but others still struggle to collaborate.

10th February, 2022

Community Power • Covid-19 • Local government • Research Reports • Third sector and civil society

Have we been here before? Jessica Studdert on the Levelling Up white paper, and how laudable ambitions have amounted to a familiar dearth of real powers or policy coherence for […]

2nd February, 2022

Devolution • Devolution and reorganisation • Levelling Up • Local government • Politics

Charlotte Morgan gives a rapid response to the Government's Levelling Up white paper - and what it really says about devolution.

2nd February, 2022

Community Power • Devolution • Levelling Up

Grace Pollard explores how organisations can ask themselves: How are we listening? Who are we listening to? And does our listening lead to action?

31st January, 2022

Community engagement • Community Power • Culture • Democracy • Local government

Take a moment to reflect and learn, recharge and connect, and reboot the way you work at the community power event of the year.

28th January, 2022

Events • Health and social care • Stronger Things

Today’s announcement on Universal Credit is one more example of welfare policy set to serve the interests of the politically powerful rather than the unemployed and the economy.

27th January, 2022

Devolution • Employment • Local government • Politics • Welfare

Chris Clarke of HOPE Not Hate introduces a new tool to help councils find and secure funds for community cohesion projects.

24th January, 2022

Charities • Community Cohesion • Local government • Local government finance

A new campaign seeks support for a route to decentralisation that is more meaningful and radical than the government’s, writes Adam Lent

17th January, 2022

Community engagement • Community Power • Community Power Campaign • Devolution

Sheffield University’s Dr Matthew Wood shares three tips for councils aspiring to bring communities into decision making.

5th January, 2022

Community engagement • Community Power • Council Voices

Following the leak of Gove’s devolution plans, Adam Lent explores the difference between a devolution designed to empower communities and places and one that is stuck in an outdated focus on growth and productivity.

14th December, 2021

Central government • Community Power • Devolution • Devolution and reorganisation • Politics

Luca Tiratelli responds to the view that community power can be a way of cutting public services.

10th December, 2021

Community Power • Economy and business • Local government finance • Politics

The Relationship Project's David Robinson shares a framework for making relationships essential to public services, not a 'nice to have'.

8th December, 2021

Health and social care • Leadership • Public Services • Strategy and leadership

Some elected representatives find community power objectionable. Adam Lent explains why their concerns say more about the failings of the current system than about a community powered alternative.

6th December, 2021

Community Power • Devolution • Political Systems • Politics

Following the launch of the We’re Right Here campaign, Adam Lent explains why we’ve joined the drive to enshrine the rights of communities in law.

30th November, 2021

Community Power • Community Power Campaign • Community Voices • Devolution • Politics

A new breed of libertarianism argues that more scientific and data expertise are the only solutions to our democracy’s woes. Adam Lent counters that Westminster’s troubles originate in a crisis […]

25th November, 2021

Central government • Governance • Politics

Vidhya Alakeson looks at how to create social, not just commercial town centre spaces.

25th November, 2021

Economy and business • Finance • Place building

Listening to communities can unlock co-benefits.

22nd November, 2021

Climate change • Community Power • Housing • Research Reports

More short-term fixes will only lead to further crisis. It's time for leadership to change the narrative.

18th November, 2021

Health and social care • Politics

We're building under half of the new homes we need, while millions live in unsuitable and overcrowded accommodation. What if involving communities in planning could succeed where decades of reforms have failed? Pawda Tjoa on how councils can construct...

17th November, 2021

Community Power • Housing • Ostrom

James Arrowsmith of Browne Jacobson shares his insights on how to overcome the fear of risk in your organisation.

15th November, 2021

Local government reform • Strategy and leadership

Holding onto second jobs and central power - Westminster is unable to change itself from within.

12th November, 2021

Community Power Campaign • Devolution • Devolution and reorganisation • Political Systems • Politics

Bonnie Hewson explores how co-production can help rebuild trust between councils and communities.

10th November, 2021

Community Cohesion • Community engagement • Council Voices • Local government • Local government reform

How do we blast through the inertia currently gripping British climate policy making?

8th November, 2021

Climate change • Community Power • Environment • Politics

Stories aren’t a distraction from action but rather a way to nurture and inspire it.

3rd November, 2021

Community Cohesion • Community engagement • Council Voices • Local government

Introducing our new project on the ‘how’ of community power and our initial findings.

2nd November, 2021

Community Power • Local government • Local government reform • Research Reports

Anna and Donna discuss why we need to move beyond debating funding to creating a people-centred system.

1st November, 2021

Health and social care • Public Health • Social Care

Looking more closely at the detail beneath the positive Budget headlines.

28th October, 2021

Finance • Local government • Local government finance • Policy • Politics

Jessica Studdert explains how disadvantaged communities can play a part in the fight against climate change - if they are given the power they need.

26th October, 2021

Climate change • Devolution • Economy and business • Local government

Mark Green, from the award-winning Local Data Spaces project, looks at how to improve data sharing to increase impact in your area.

25th October, 2021

Data • Local government • Local government finance • Public Services

Local action can play a major role in our response to climate change.

20th October, 2021

Climate change • Community Power • Devolution and reorganisation • Research Reports

As the world reels from an accelerating environmental crisis, Adam Lent details a vision of a sustainable economy that has local communities rather than big business at its heart. Contrary […]

12th October, 2021

Community Power • Economy and business • Long read

Community power hit the political mainstream on Sunday, as Michael Gove used one of his first platforms as Secretary of State to endorse the idea of putting people in charge of local services and social infrastructure.

6th October, 2021

Community Power • Devolution • Devolution and reorganisation • Politics

In a paper published by New Local, ten Conservative MPs elected in 2019 have said its time for their party to ‘trust the people’ and caution that money alone will solve the problems facing the country.

2nd October, 2021

Community Power • Conservatives • Levelling Up • Politics

Give communities the power they need to level up

22nd September, 2021

Devolution • Devolution and reorganisation • Local government finance • Policy • Politics

New Local Network and Events Officer Stephanie Riches explains how the pandemic has changed how she views her own identity and illustrated the importance of taking pride in your area […]

16th September, 2021

Community Power • Community Voices • Culture • Inequality

The right narrative or story can make the difference in creating change. How can you develop them? Bonnie Hewson of Power to Change shares some inspiring examples from communities.

9th September, 2021

Community engagement • Community Power • Community Voices • Place building

We're looking for community leaders to develop and lead a major new campaign for community power.

18th August, 2021

Community Power • Community Power Campaign • Politics

During lockdown, there was a surprising increase in local participation - demonstrating the positive role of community power in emergencies.

16th August, 2021

Community Power • Councils Respond • Democracy • Mutual Aid

For many in local government, the Covid-19 pandemic has been defined not only by huge hardship and challenges, but also by renewed purpose, new partnerships and rediscovered passion for their work. As society takes steps towards ‘normality’, we ask...

4th August, 2021

Council Voices • Covid-19 • Local government

The causes and effects of climate change are different in every part of the UK. If we want to achieve ‘net zero’ carbon emissions, we need local solutions to this national problem.

28th July, 2021

Climate change • Environment • Leadership • Research Reports

Local government finance can be mystifying. Taxes, rates, grants; shifting parametres and endless micro reforms. And yet how councils get their money has inescapable consequences for our places and services. Luckily, Jessica Studdert is on-hand to shed a light...

23rd July, 2021

Explainer • Local government • Local government finance • Local government reform • Long read

Thinking of climate change through a local lens can help us find practical solutions, and stop searching for silver bullets. Luca Tiratelli on our new research project in partnership with Groundwork and Grosvenor.

15th July, 2021

Climate change • Community Power • Environment • Research Reports

In the UK, access to healthcare may be egalitarian in principle, but outcomes are becoming less and less equal. Spurred on by the experience of Covid, a growing movement is building solutions - not within hospitals or GP surgeries,...

8th July, 2021

Community Power • Health and social care • Inequality • Long read

Rising demand, poor outcomes, public expectations and the need to bring humanity to healthcare are why giving more power to communities is the change the NHS needs argues Luca Tiratelli.

1st July, 2021

Community Power • Health and social care

Last month, Camden Council became the 54th member of New Local’s network of councils. Director Nick Kimber explores how community power is helping to build a better borough, and why […]

28th June, 2021

Council Voices • Councils Respond • Members • Strategy and leadership

How can we make sure integrated care systems work for local people? Alex Fox argues we need to avoid just integrating bureaucracies, but take the opportunity to put patients' needs first.

23rd June, 2021

Community Power • Health and social care • Public Services • Social Care

Robyn Vinter on how people in the north of England are hungry for change in their area, and why it needs to be locally-led to succeed.

21st June, 2021

Community engagement • Devolution and reorganisation • Economy and business • Strategy and leadership