Today’s #DormantAssets announcement could be a game changer for the 11,000 community businesses working to support vulnerable people and communities in England, including those in underserved places and most at risk from the cost-of-living crisis 👏

🧵1/6 @SchSocEnt @GSGimpinv @NAVCA @PlunkettFoundat @resp_finance @UnLtd @V4CE @ImpactInvInst @SocialEnt_UK @si_access As a member of the @CommWealthFund, and supporter of the #CommEntGrowthPlan, we are pleased that Government has listened and recognised the need for long-term investment at the community level and provide much needed energy resilience support for community organisations.

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THREAD 🧵 | Initial thoughts on the #LevellingUp White Paper.

First, it’s promising to see the government starting to devolve funding and decision making out of Whitehall. But to succeed, it must go further and empower people at a neighbourhood level. We welcome the review of neighbourhood governance and the commitment to pilot new models for community partnership, such as Community Covenants.

These measures can help devolve power and funding to the neighbourhood level, as championed by @right_hereUK:
right-here.org/asks/

Government’s long-awaited #LevellingUp White Paper is expected tomorrow. We’re keen to see details.

It could start to tackle regional inequality and long-term decline. BUT communities must be in the driving seat, or Government risks falling short of its ambitions.

A thread 🧵 A radical reimagining of who can exercise power is needed. Limiting devolution to the new metro and county mayor level is a missed opportunity and may fail to deliver for local people.

That's why we support @right_hereUK's call to devolve power locally.
right-here.org

IMPACT 🧵 | Since 2015, the world has transformed. Our communities have never been more vital.

For 6 years, we've been supporting the community business sector.

This is the story of how communities can use the power of business to improve our lives and the impact we've made ⬇️ IMPACT 🧵 | We've invested £8⃣6⃣ million into community business. Two-thirds of this has gone into the most deprived areas.

This has helped put assets in community hands and improved financial resilience.

STATEMENT | Our CEO @vidhyaalakeson on Boris Johnson's #TenPointPlan, echoing messages from @Comm1nrg:

“The ambition that sits behind Boris Johnson’s Ten Point Plan is a step in the right direction. However, it’s missing two key components – people and communities."

1/4 STATEMENT | @vidhyaalakeson:

"We’ve seen the power of community in action during the pandemic and if we are to achieve a net zero economy, it is essential that local people have a say in devising and implementing local solutions.”

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