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Locality Convention '25

Workshops & visits

Our visits and expert-led workshops help delegates learn new skills, deepen their knowledge, and gain practical tools they can take back to achieve more for their community.

We are creating Convention '26's programme in partnership with community organisations and front-line experts.

Download the workshop presentations

Workshops

Wednesday 12 November 2025

Supercharge your organisation's impact by taking part in expert-led, interactive workshops to address the challenges and opportunities faced by community organisations.

From finances and energy efficiency to collaboration with local government, these workshops cover a wide range of topics that drive community-led change.

Owning our future: exploring community ownership models across the world

Join community leaders to explore diverse models of community ownership: how they work, why they matter, and what we can learn from each other. Through interactive discussions and peer exchanges, you'll make valuable connections, share practical ideas, and leave inspired to strengthen community ownership in your own communities.

Speakers:

Download the Owning our future workshop presentation

Surplus for purpose: help your community reduce waste

Discover how the circular economy is reshaping communities and driving a more sustainable future. This interactive workshop will explore practical ways to integrate sustainability into your work, from setting up reuse and repair initiatives, to reducing waste through creative community action. You will leave this workshop inspired by knowledge and practical tips from experienced speakers, who will share ideas and lessons from local and global perspectives.

Speakers:

Download the Surplus for purpose workshop presentation

Making community-led housing happen: finance, partnerships, and people

Community-led housing thrives when finance, partnerships, and lived experience come together.

Resonance will share how it works alongside communities to unlock housing projects, while Calder Valley Community Land Trust will reflect on different routes to delivering community-led housing, including partnerships. Pathway Housing Solutions will discuss the opportunities and challenges for racialised communities.

Together, we’ll explore barriers and opportunities, share experiences, and feed into Locality’s policy work.

Speakers:

Sponsored by Resonance

Download the Making community-led housing happen workshop presentation

Unlocking the power of heritage

Heritage buildings and spaces connect and deliver a vast amount of benefits for their communities. Hear how others have been inspired by their past and found successful, practical new uses that engage and leave a lasting impact for the local people and the neighbourhood. Explore the challenges groups have overcome as they share lessons they have learnt.

Join us for this lively workshop with plenty of opportunity to share, connect and be inspired by examples from settlements and other heritage organisations across the world, as well as those closer to home in the North West.

Speakers: 

Sponsored by Historic England

Download the Unlocking the power of heritage workshop presentation

AI for communities: practical, clear, and values-first

AI is changing the world around us, but what does it mean for community organisations? This friendly session will explain the basics, share real experiences from peers, and highlight both opportunities and risks. You’ll leave with practical ideas, simple tools to explore, and confidence to make choices that fit your community’s values.

Speakers:

Sponsored by Plinth

Download the AI for communities workshop presentation

Community organisations in a "Neighbourhood Health Service"

In the NHS 10 Year Plan published in July, the government promised a shift to a "Neighbourhood Health Service" that brings care out of hospitals and into the community, while focusing on preventing illness. We’ll discuss the role community organisations can play, how this is already happening in places, and how we can go even further. 

Speakers:

Download the Community organisations in a "Neighbourhood Health Service" workshop presentation

Thursday 13 November 2025

Welcoming new migrants and building belonging in times of division

Discover insights from UK-based and international organisations supporting migrants to feel welcome in their new homes, in the wake of rising anti-immigration sentiment. Together, we'll explore and curate pathways of support for people new to their local communities.  

For everyone active in this space and those who want to do more for migrants in their community. We'll focus on peer learning and the shared responsibility we all have to build belonging.

Speakers:

Resilient community buildings: energy efficiency, low-carbon technology, and renewable energy 

Energy resilience is essential for community organisations – keeping spaces welcoming and affordable despite rising costs, while tackling climate change.

This participatory workshop explores practical steps to boost energy efficiency and adopt low-carbon technologies, from simple DIY improvements to major capital projects and finance options. You’ll join tailored discussions, share experiences, and hear inspiring case studies from Locality members and the Energy Resilience Fund, covering solutions ranging from heat pumps to solar panels and even electric tractors.

Speakers:  

Sponsored by Social Investment Business

Download the Resilient community buildings workshop presentation

Youth action: how community organisations can tap into the potential of young people

Community-based initiatives provide vital opportunities for young people to develop personal and social skills, foster a sense of belonging, and contribute to volunteering and active citizenship.

Whether you’re an established youth provider or just starting out, this workshop will explore how you can harness the potential of young people in your work. Hear from speakers with exciting initiatives to engage young people and embed youth voice – and take away inspiration for your organisation.

Speakers:

Download the Youth action workshop presentation

Make social investment work for your community

Discover how social investment can power your community projects. Learn how NatWest Social and Community Capital supports community organisations through the social investment process. This workshop is for community groups ready to understand social finance, share experiences, and build valuable connections to fund and grow their impact.

Speakers:

Sponsored by NatWest Social and Community Capital

Download the Make social investment work for your community workshop presentation

Working with the public sector: building stronger relationships for community impact

Strong relationships with local government can unlock new opportunities for community organisations, but they also come with challenges. This workshop explores the different types of partnerships that can develop, the current landscape for collaboration, and practical techniques for building effective, long-term relationships with local authorities that create real impact for communities.

Speakers:

Sponsored by Anthony Collins Solicitors

Making sport and the arts work for communities

Discover practical ways in which sport and the arts can strengthen communities. This interactive workshop shares good examples and best practice approaches for tackling inequality, boosting wellbeing, and connecting people. You’ll work with peers to apply these ideas to your own projects, leaving with simple, actionable principles you can use straight away.

Speakers:

Download the Making sport and the arts work for communities workshop presentation

“The networking is absolutely massive. It’s the learning about funding, about the future, common denominators in terms of issues, concerns, what’s coming up, what’s expected, what’s on the horizon. Absolutely wonderful experience”

Tonia Flannagan,
St Albans Community Association 

Visits

Wednesday 12 November 2025

Step outside the Convention venue and into the heart of Liverpool's thriving community sector.

Our visits offer a unique opportunity to learn from inspiring community leaders, engage in meaningful conversations, and experience first-hand the transformative power of community-driven projects.

Rotunda: breaking barriers, building futures

Located across five stunning Grade II-listed Georgian terrace houses in Kirkdale, North Liverpool, Rotunda is a charity on a mission to break down barriers and create opportunities for the local community. For over 30 years, Rotunda has provided education, career, well-being and general life support. 

Visit community-led spaces, including the cafe, heritage centre and wellbeing garden. Learn how they’re building stronger community connections through the Connection Trailblazers programme and their plans to expand their offer to include community-led housing.  

Rotunda

Lock & Quay community pub and gardens with Safe Regeneration - Fully Booked

Visit the region’s only community-owned pub and cultural venue, and learn more about how a derelict building has become a major contributor to the regeneration of the town of Bootle. This multi-award-winning emporium is a key part of a much wider story: a £35 million, community-led neighbourhood regeneration project to build 150 new homes and community-owned facilities on the Liverpool-Leeds canal.

Hear from Brian Dawe from Safe Regeneration as he talks about the charity, what it’s achieved, and its plans for the next 10 years.

Lock & Quay

Safe Regeneration

Brick by brick, wash by wash: community-led regeneration of Anfield - Fully Booked

Put on your walking shoes and join Homebaked Community Land Trust and Kitty’s Launderette for a tour along Anfield’s infamous high street. As we walk and talk, we will spot and explore the many opportunities and challenges in our neighbourhood, before continuing the conversation (with a cuppa in hand) in our much-loved community launderette. Together, we'll share how joint efforts in building and nurturing a local ecosystem are supporting the development and delivery of a collective, community-led vision for Anfield. 

Homebaked Community Land Trust

Kitty's Launderette 

Remembering the past and building the future - The Florrie - Cancelled

Visit The Florence Institute, better known as The Florrie, and learn about its long history of supporting residents of the Dingle area of Liverpool. Originally established in 1889 as a boys' institute, The Florrie served the community for almost 100 years before the building closed and fell into disrepair. Following a community action and fundraising campaign, The Florrie was restored to its former glory and reopened in 2012, providing advice, support, heritage and wellbeing activities. Come and find out why this building means so much to local people and how it continues to be a space that brings people together.

The Florrie

40 years of empowerment: exploring Blackburne House

Located in the heart of Liverpool’s Georgian Quarter, Blackburne House was originally founded in the early 1980s as a response to the lack of opportunities for women, particularly Black women, in the city. Over 40 years later, their offer includes English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) classes and support for migrant women as well as a wide range of other learning and development opportunities. Visit Blackburne House to hear about its rich history as one of Liverpool’s leading social enterprises, providing a nursery, bistro and conference and events centre alongside education in its magnificent Grade II listed building.

Blackburne House

Thursday 13 November 2025

Each visit showcases different aspects of community initiatives, exploring sustainable practices and providing valuable insights you can take back to your organisation.

Rotunda: breaking barriers, building futures

Located across five stunning Grade II-listed Georgian terrace houses in Kirkdale, North Liverpool, Rotunda is a charity on a mission to break down barriers and create opportunities for the local community. For over 30 years, Rotunda has provided education, career, well-being and general life support. 

Visit community-led spaces, including the cafe, heritage centre and wellbeing garden. Learn how they’re building stronger community connections through the Connection Trailblazers programme and their plans to expand their offer to include community-led housing.  

Rotunda

Lock & Quay community pub and gardens with Safe Regeneration

Visit the region’s only community-owned pub and cultural venue, and learn more about how a derelict building has become a major contributor to the regeneration of the town of Bootle. This multi-award-winning emporium is a key part of a much wider story: a £35 million, community-led neighbourhood regeneration project to build 150 new homes and community-owned facilities on the Liverpool-Leeds canal.

Hear from Brian Dawe from Safe Regeneration as he talks about the charity, what it’s achieved, and its plans for the next 10 years.

Lock & Quay

Safe Regeneration

Brick by brick, wash by wash - a community-led contribution to the regeneration of Anfield

Put on your walking shoes and join Homebaked Community Land Trust and Kitty’s Launderette for a tour along Anfield’s infamous high street. As we walk and talk, we will spot and explore the many opportunities and challenges in our neighbourhood, before continuing the conversation (with a cuppa in hand) in our much-loved community launderette. Together, we'll share how joint efforts in building and nurturing a local ecosystem are supporting the development and delivery of a collective, community-led vision for Anfield. 

Homebaked Community Land Trust

Kitty's Launderette 

Remembering the past and building the future - The Florrie

Visit The Florence Institute, better known as The Florrie, and learn about its long history of supporting residents of the Dingle area of Liverpool. Originally established in 1889 as a boys' institute, The Florrie served the community for almost 100 years before the building closed and fell into disrepair. Following a community action and fundraising campaign, The Florrie was restored to its former glory and reopened in 2012, providing advice, support, heritage and wellbeing activities. Come and find out why this building means so much to local people and how it continues to be a space that brings people together.

The Florrie

40 years of empowerment: exploring Blackburne House

Located in the heart of Liverpool’s Georgian Quarter, Blackburne House was originally founded in the early 1980s as a response to the lack of opportunities for women, particularly Black women, in the city. Over 40 years later, their offer includes English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) classes and support for migrant women as well as a wide range of other learning and development opportunities. Visit Blackburne House to hear about its rich history as one of Liverpool’s leading social enterprises, providing a nursery, bistro and conference and events centre alongside education in its magnificent Grade II listed building.

Blackburne House

Homebaked Community Land Trust

Locality and IFS100 Convention '25 is supported by