Power to Change

Power to Change is the think-do tank that backs community business. We back community business from the ground up. We turn bold ideas into action so communities have the power to change what matters to them. 

We know community business works to build stronger communities and better places to live. We’ve seen people create resilient and prosperous local economies when power is in community hands. We also know the barriers that stand in the way of their success. We’re using our experience to bring partners together to do, test and learn what works. We’re shaping the conditions for community business to thrive. 


Latest reports

Department stories

This report from UK think tank Power to Change looks at how communities are reimagining a national institution. Once a destination for generations of shoppers, department stores are on the decline. There’s been an 85% decrease in the number of department stores on Britain’s high streets over the past decade, with many well-known brands leaving...

Read more

Fixing the foundations: A communities strategy for Britain

This report from UK think tank Power to Change explores community cohesion, empowerment and growth in response to the riots across the UK this summer. Torn social fabric lay behind disorder this summer. The government’s communities policy must move from responding to crisis to consistency. We know community cohesion is back on the agenda for...

Read more

Getting it right

This report from UK think tank Power to Change offers detailed guidance for the Government on how to make a Community Right to Buy work for everyone. Across the country communities are being shut out as buildings are boarded up, destroyed or sold to developers and turned into spaces that fail to serve the needs...

Read more

Resilient Communities Fund: Review

This report from UK think tank Power to Change and New Local looks at what they learned from funding the Resilient Communities Fund. The Resilient Communities Fund provided emergency support as quickly as possible to community businesses, to support them to implement energy resilience projects to become more resilient to both climate change and the...

Read more

Financing the future economy

This report from UK think tank Power to Change looks at how community businesses can access the right finance to achieve their ambitions. This report draws on what Power to Change has learned from funding, supporting and advocating for community business since 2015 about the challenges community businesses face in accessing the right types of...

Read more

Leading the Way

This report from UK think tank Power to Change evaluates the impact of their Leading the Way programme. The Leading the Way programme aimed to increase the skills, confidence, and networks of community enterprise leaders. This report evaluates it's impact, including on their enteprises and communities.

Read more

The role of community energy in a just transition to net zero

This report from UK think tank Power to Change looks at the support needed from different stakeholders to achieve a net zero future. This policy report highlights the support needed from government, local authorities, electricity systems operators, and funders to unlock the potential of Community Energy Businesses (CEBs) in achieving a Net Zero future.

Read more

Community Life Survey hyperlocal booster report

This report from UK think tank Power to Change looks at the impact that community business has and how to create the conditions for them to thrive. This Community Life Survey Hyperlocal Booster Report exemplifies our renewed commitment to evidencing the impact that community business has, amplifying what works and influencing change to create the...

Read more