Overview
Buildings transferred into community ownership, like village halls, community centres and sports clubs, are the beating heart of local life. Yet, many are old, expensive to run, and in urgent need of repair. Rising energy costs and new regulations are putting extra pressure on community organisations and VCSE groups, threatening their ability to deliver vital services. This report makes the case for more support to increase the energy efficiency of community buildings, through energy assessment, retrofit and improving the fabric of the building, and installing things like insulation, heat pumps, solar panels, LED lighting and draught-proofing. It draws lessons from the now-ended VCSE Energy Efficiency Scheme, a £25 million government-backed programme that Locality helped to deliver, which helped community organisations across England make their buildings more energy efficient.
The report shows how investing in energy efficiency can:
- Cut running costs and free up funds for frontline services
- Make buildings warmer, safer, and more welcoming for everyone
- Help organisations meet new energy standards and environmental targets
- Strengthen the long-term sustainability and resilience of community spaces
It includes real examples of community organisations that have reduced their energy bills and improved their buildings, practical lessons from the original scheme and insights into the challenges and opportunities facing community organisations. It sets out clear evidence of the huge demand for energy efficiency support and the positive impact it can have, and specific recommendations for how government and local authorities can ensure these valued community spaces continue providing their essential local role.
Related reports
Community organisations and climate action
Research and practical resources to support community organisations, charities, social enterprises and community businesses to tackle climate change, including an assessment of different approaches, business models and examples to help take climate action.
Keys to the future: How we build a new era of community ownership
Community ownership is a proven, scalable driver of local economic renewal and resilient, connected communities. While political support has never been higher, demand for investment far outstrips supply, with the recent Community Right to Buy Fund touching just the tip of the iceberg.
This landmark research, created by Locality and Power to Change, sets out a detailed roadmap for a new era of community ownership. With the right strategy, investment and support, community ownership can do far more than save at-risk buildings and spaces: it can create inclusive jobs, tackle isolation and strengthen cohesion. Supported by Esmée Fairbairn Foundation.
Clean Power = Community Power
Our report, "Clean Power = Community Power", produced with partners including Power to Change, Common Wealth and Ashden, shows how the UK government’s forthcoming Local Power Plan offers a rare “win–win”: driving progress towards net zero while strengthening long-term community infrastructure.
We draw on extensive qualitative research, including 15 case studies of community organisations that have developed renewable energy projects, alongside insights from a workshop with Locality members. Our findings capture the experiences of established community energy groups as well as organisations with strong local roots and relevant skills that could enter the sector with the right support.
We set out clear, practical steps to shape a Local Power Plan that works for communities, alongside broader policy reforms to remove systemic barriers and unlock the full potential of community energy. Together, our proposals offer a credible and actionable route to achieving the government’s 8GW community energy target while expanding community ownership across the country.
Alongside offering guidance for national and local policymakers, the report’s stories, insights, and recommendations also serve as both inspiration and a practical starting point for community organisations planning how to make the most of the opportunities created by the Local Power Plan.
Creating places for everyone: Supporting place-based and community-led racial justice
You can’t have social justice without racial justice. Places can only thrive when every group within them thrives.
This report and action plan explains how social infrastructure created by and for racialised communities is crucial for this. As are strong, representative, and inclusive community “anchor” organisations that bring groups together within their neighbourhoods.
Our action plan sets out how we will put this into practice, building our developing organisational commitment to anti-racism into a clear, practical support offer for our members, spanning the full range of our organisational activity.
Community powered neighbourhoods: How community anchor organisations can transform our places
Our report “Community powered neighbourhoods: How community anchor organisations can transform our places” tracks over 100 years of community power to explain why community anchor organisations’ time has come.
We examine how, in a time of increasing social division and a loss of trust in politics, we must we get power back to communities through the local organisations that know them best.
Through real-world examples in Birmingham, Sunderland, Wigan, and Leeds, we explore how community anchors are already having a huge impact on the things the government cares about most: regenerating economies, providing preventive services, and creating trusting, cohesive communities.
And we explain how the range of neighbourhood-focussed government policy programmes – from the Pride in Place Strategy, to the Neighbourhood Health Service, to Get Britain Working – could achieve maximum impact if they put the community anchor model at their heart.
Finally, we set out to government the big, national shifts we need to see to ensure community power keeps growing for another 100 years – through a National Community Ownership Strategy, neighbourhood governance based around community anchors, and community-led public service reform.