Community groups
Commission calls for shift of focus in levelling up
The Commission into Prosperity and Community Placemaking has concluded investment should be made in local neighbourhoods rather than grand infrastructure projects.
Buckinghamshire’s new collaborations
Claire Hawkes outlines Buckinghamshire Council’s community board approach to distributing COVID-19 crisis funding, using a ‘light-touch, but robust application process’.
Report exposes local-national divide over pandemic
Fractures between local and national decision-makers have been highlighted in a new report examining responses to the coronavirus crisis.
Councils advised to avoid term ‘lockdown’
Experts have advised councils to avoid using the term ‘lockdown’ when discussing the reinstatement of coronavirus restrictions.
Keeping positive outside crisis time
The better nature of people has come to the fore during the recent pandemic, but how do we keep the momentum going in more ‘normal’ times? Dan Corry poses the question.
Community groups attitude key to success
Council attitudes towards community groups have a ‘clear impact’ on their success and sustainability, a think-tank report has found.
Free community groups to take on assets - think-tank
Powers allowing community groups to take on local assets should be kick-started to build on the volunteer spirit generated by COVID says a report released today.
Community ties strengthen as economies unravel
Community cohesion is at an all-time high despite plummeting economic confidence during the coronavirus pandemic, according to a new survey of local government chiefs and leaders.
Councils' plea to support voluntary sector
A group of councils has written to the Government demanding action to protect community organisations during the coronavirus crisis.
Organising for change
Dominic Campbell looks ahead to the NLGN’s upcoming flagship event, assessing how the sector can make the most of the power of change
Bristol mayor creates UK-first social investment scheme
Bristol’s mayor is hoping to mobilise the investment power of businesses to tackle the city’s challenges in a scheme thought to be the first of its kind in the UK.
Pride in Camden
Camden LBC's leader Georgia Gould and chief executive Jenny Rowlands explain to Heather Jameson how they are reshaping council meetings and pulling in their communities to create a modern, vibrant council of the future.
Regenerating Rochford’s high street
High streets everywhere are feeling the pinch, but Rochford is experimenting with new ways of increasing visitor footfall and engaging the community. Shaun Scrutton reports
Reducing the risks from transition
The May local elections returned significant numbers of new councillors including new single issue groups. Abdool Kara examines the role of chief executives in actively managing the transition.
Collaborative leadership for thriving places
PlaceMakers is a programme that brings local leaders from all sectors together to develop a collective understanding of their place. Anna Randle and Alex Khaldi explain why single-sector leadership development programmes are not enough.
Local government has a crucial role to play in maximising crowdfunding’s potential
Jonathan Bone says maximising the opportunities available through crowdfunding will require a 'different kind of local government with a different culture, ways of working and relationship with communities’.
Building without the battles
While 2018 saw community resistance to regeneration projects, Colin Crooks believes there are some signs of optimism for the growing regeneration activity in 2019
Let’s rebuild support for our voluntary bodies
Something is not right in the state of the relationship between local government and the voluntary and community sector – yet the importance of a productive collaboration has never been greater, argues chair of NAVCA John Tizard.
Lord Bourne urges bids for Windrush Day events cash
As the MHCLG launches a £500,000 fund to support councils and community groups in putting on events to celebrate national Windrush Day Communities Minister Lord Bourne says local authorities have a powerful role to play
Say ‘no’ to municipal censorship
When grassroots activists proactively engage in the democratic process, they should be allowed to do so without municipal censorship, argues Claire Fox
