HOME ABOUT GROUNDWORK LATEST UPDATES RESOURCES APPLY FOR A GRANT SEARCH PROJECTS PARTNER WITH US JOIN IN GROUNDWORK NEAR ME Communities In Control Our policy position on the right of every community to be in control of its future HOME About Us What we think Communities in control We believe that every community should be in control of its future, and that people should be able to make decisions about their local area. Strengthening social infrastructure In every community there are deep reserves of pride and people with the passion and ideas to improve their circumstances and surroundings. By bringing people of all ages and backgrounds together, we can create a pool of knowledge and skills and use this to tackle the social and environmental challenges the community faces. However, some communities experience more challenges than others when exercising choice and control over their futures. The most disadvantaged parts of the UK have faced deeper cuts to public spending, benefit from fewer local voluntary organisations, suffer greater environmental injustice, and many residents are balancing multiple jobs or coping with worklessness and insecure housing. This can weaken the social infrastructure in a place – the places, networks and activities that underpin community life. Over the years, Groundwork has worked alongside communities to strengthen their social infrastructure, helping them to organise into recognised groups, providing training and skills to build capacity and supporting the delivery of practical projects to galvanise action and demonstrate that change is possible. This means committing to a place for the long term, including all sections of the community, valuing the skills and perspective of each individual, and working closely with people to identify shared priorities and solutions. It also means providing a bridge between residents, public bodies and businesses, enabling people to access the information and options they need to make informed choices and to contribute to the regeneration and sustainable development of their local area. Community resilience The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of strong local community networks when it comes to supporting people in times of crisis. While some have been more profoundly affected than others, people were willing to work together to protect their neighbours and maintain vital services. However, many community groups are also feeling the strain from lack of resources and rising need. Sustaining strong community networks through a long period of disruption and the transition to a ‘new normal’ will hold challenges. Groundwork is committed to tackling inequality in all its forms and helping communities access the support and resources they need to be more resilient and to drive a green recovery from the pandemic. Find out more Our policy reports on communities: Regeneration and a Green Recovery: bringing people and nature back to town and city centres Community Groups In A Crisis: insights from the first six months of the Covid-19 pandemic Growing Spaces: community hubs and their role in recovery Communities Taking Action: the landscape for community groups in 2019 Groundwork is a champion of the Community Wealth Fund Alliance. Twitter Facebook Linkedin Youtube Select your region Cheshire and Merseyside East Midlands East of England Greater Manchester Lancashire and Cumbria London North East North Wales Northern Ireland Scotland South East of England South Wales South West of England West Midlands Yorkshire and the Humber UK Office GO PROJECTS PARTNER WITH US JOIN IN GROUNDWORK NEAR ME Careers Resources Apply for a grant Terms and conditions of use Privacy Accessibility Sitemap The Federation of Groundwork Trusts. Suite B2, The Walker Building, 58 Oxford Street, Birmingham, B5 5NR Tel: 0121 236 8565. Email info@groundwork.org.uk Copyright © 2021 Groundwork. All Rights Reserved. Registered charity in England and Wales (No. 291558) Company reg 1900511