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Building Thriving Neighbourhoods: The Locality Manifesto

Through the new Locality Manifesto, we’re calling for a “community power revolution”. We know that local communities are best placed to transform lives and create a fairer society.

We need your help to share our policy calls. Share a one-page version of the manifesto, and read our guidance on contacting your MP.

To achieve a community power revolution, we are calling on the government to make five big reforms

1
Introduce a Community Power Act

to strengthen community rights. This act will give new rights for communities to take control of local buildings and spaces, shape public services, and control local investment. It will also see the creation of radical new power sharing arrangements to tilt power towards local people.

2
Create a National Community Ownership Strategy

that boosts community ownership and capacity from energy to housing to health.

3
Put communities in charge of local economic development

giving residents more control over local regeneration spending and devolving employment and skills support to the hyper-local level.

4
Make collaboration – not competition - the guiding principle of public services

Reforming commissioning and shifting NHS budgets to community-led prevention.

5
Champion community-led housing and neighbourhood planning

giving communities a tangible stake in their neighbourhoods.

“Communities are achieving amazing things against the odds and despite the barriers. Now is the time to bring community power from the margins to the mainstream and support communities everywhere. Now is the time for a community power revolution”.

Tony Armstrong
Tony Armstrong
CEO, Locality

Locality members are doing incredible things against the odds up and down the country to help their communities thrive. We want to make sure Westminster knows about them.

Are you a Locality member? Do you have an amazing example of community power in action and a connection to your MP? Let us know! We want to showcase it alongside the Locality Manifesto to show what our sector can achieve with the right support.

To get in touch, contact policy@locality.org.uk.

News
02
min
read
How the new government could harness community power
Locality reacts to the new Labour government, and sets out how it could work with community organisations to achieve more.
Published: 09 July 2024
Our Influencing work
Contact your MP
Guidance to help community organisations engage with and influence their MP
Our Influencing work
We're Right Here
The We’re Right Here’s campaign calls for a Community Power Act, so that local people can shape the places where they live
News
02
min
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Power partners: How community organisations are breathing new life into local democracy
A new Locality report shows how local community organisations are re-engaging people where they are turning their backs on local democracy.
Published: 02 May 2024
News
02
min
read
Locality reacts to General Election manifestos
Whitehall doesn’t have the answers: the next government will need to look local
Published: 14 June 2024
Government announces £36.2 Million in grants through Community Ownership Fund
 
News
10
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Government announces £36.2 Million in grants through Community Ownership Fund
A special congratulations to the 36 groups who benefitted from the Community Ownership Fund support programme.
Published: 23 December 2024
Research: A Place to Call Home 2
 
News
15
min
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Research: A Place to Call Home 2
New research from The Ubele Initiative identifies benefits and challenges for Black and racially minoritised communities owning cultural and community assets, and sets out guidance for organisations.
Published: 20 December 2024
Locality responds to the English Devolution White Paper
 
News
02
min
read
Locality responds to the English Devolution White Paper
Locality's reflects on the English Devolution White Paper, launched on 16th December.
Published: 18 December 2024