Synopsis
At a time when many parts of the UK face cuts, neglect and social problems, local people are starting community businesses to take control, and make sure their local areas survive and stay vibrant. They are doing this because no one understands a community better than the people who live there. They are reviving local assets, protecting the services people rely on, and addressing local needs. Here are some of their extraordinary stories.
Episodes
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Trailer: Finding a balance: Wellbeing
14/12/2018 Duration: 01minHow do community business leaders balance the pressures of their work with their personal life and wellbeing? We talk to Shotley Pier and our very own Fergus Arkley to find out.
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Coffee, cakes and big career breaks
30/11/2018 Duration: 34minCafé INDIEpendent is not only a great place to grab a coffee in Scunthorpe, it is helping to tackle social isolation and providing training opportunities for young people. Find out how they do it and get some top tips on setting up a community café from Buzz Lockleaze in Bristol. Show Notes You can read the full case study on Café INDIEpendent as well as other case studies on community businesses and the impact they are having on the Power to Change website. https://www.powertochange.org.uk/what-is-community-business/stories/cafe-indiependent/ The Power to Change Research Institute has produced a Success Guide for Community Café. Have a read to get a useful insight into growing your community café and making it sustainable. https://www.powertochange.org.uk/research/community-business-success-guide-cafes/ Power to Change recently attended the People’s Powerhouse Conference in Bradford to help make a case for the role of community business in the Northern Powerhouse. Read our blog on the event. htt
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Trailer: Coffee, cakes and big career breaks
15/11/2018 Duration: 01minCafé INDIEpendent is not only a great place to grab a coffee in Scunthorpe, it is helping to tackle social isolation and providing training opportunities for young people. Find out how they do it and get some top tips on setting up a community café from Buzz Lockleaze in Bristol.
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Can our high streets be saved?
01/11/2018 Duration: 39minFind out how community businesses are breathing life into high streets left behind by big chains. We talk to Homebaked – a community-run bakery in Anfield, as well as Vidhya Alakeson and Sir John Timpson about their work on the government’s panel on the future of the great British high street. Show Notes Power to Change’s CEO, Vidhya Alakeson has recently written a blog in response to an announcement in the autumn budget for further support to save our high streets. Vidhya outlines the role community business could play in revitalising and repurposing high streets. You can read the full blog on the Power to Change website. https://www.powertochange.org.uk/blog/budget-brings-welcome-news-saving-high-streets-communities-need-driving-seat/ If you want to find out more about Homebaked, you can read the case study on the Power to Change website. https://www.powertochange.org.uk/what-is-community-business/stories/homebaked/ If you’re interested in the impact Power to Change is having in local areas, you can
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Trailer: Can our high streets be saved?
16/10/2018 Duration: 01minFind out how community businesses are breathing life into high streets left behind by big chains. We talk to Homebaked – a community-run bakery in Anfield, as well as Vidhya Alakeson and Sir John Timpson about their work on the government’s panel on the future of the great British high street.
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Everyone’s an investor: What are community shares?
01/10/2018 Duration: 42minThe team who rescued Stretford Public Hall near Manchester explain how they raised vital funds by selling community shares. Want to set up your own share offer? Our top tips make essential listening. Show Notes If your group is just starting off and wants to get your community share offer off the ground, it’s worth applying to the Community Shares Starter Fund. You can receive up to £6,000 extra funding from Power to Change. Search for ‘Crowdfunder community shares starter fund’ to find out more. If you’re a bit further along in your community business journey and want to launch your community share offer, the Community Shares Booster programme offers development grants of up to £10,000 and equity match funding of up to £100,000. Community pubs, housing, energy projects and many more have already benefited. Go to www.communitysharesbooster.org.uk for more information. It’s Social Saturday on 13 October, a great opportunity to remind your customers that buying products and services from community business
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Trailer: Everyone’s an investor: What are community shares?
17/09/2018 Duration: 02minThe team who rescued Stretford Public Hall near Manchester explain how they raised vital funds by selling community shares. Want to set up your own share offer? Our top tips make essential listening.
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More than a pint: Why community pubs are thriving
31/08/2018 Duration: 26minIn 2017, the number of community pubs in England increased by 30% - bucking the trend afflicting mainstream pubs. But what is a community pub? How do you start one? Join us for a pint at The Gardners Rest in Sheffield and get top tips to save your local from someone who has already done it.
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Trailer: More than a pint: Why community pubs are thriving
14/08/2018 Duration: 01minIn 2017, the number of community pubs in England increased by 30% - bucking the trend afflicting mainstream pubs. But what is a community pub? How do you start one? Join us for a pint at The Gardners Rest in Sheffield and get top tips to save your local from someone who has already done it.
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Learning to let go: the case for community control
16/04/2018 Duration: 30minIn this podcast, Vidhya Alakeson, Chief Executive of Power to Change explores some of the ways people have taken power in their local areas by starting up community businesses. Featuring community businesses from Bristol, Luton, Liverpool, London, Leeds, and Wellingborough.