Hello friends, collaborators and new subscribers,
I hope you’re all well!
It’s been a busy few months at Platform Places and Footwork.
We’ve been buoyed by some inspiring wins for the movement – like Buy Back Brixton’s news, and a powerful day at FLIPIM, the grassroots regeneration conference in Birkenhead. Hosted by one of our co-founding Ambassadors Make CIC, it felt like an important moment to reconnect, take stock and share stories. We’ve already saved the date for next year’s event (23rd September 2027).
We’ve also been shocked by the setbacks – like Somerset Council’s decision to sell the 12-acre brownfield site in Frome to a commercial London-based developer, rather than the much-loved local Mayday Saxonvale.
We’ve been getting increasingly clear on our purpose – to build the long-term relational and financial infrastructure so that community asset leaders can access
peer support and solidarity,
quality partnerships with local authorities and asset owners, and
fit-for-purpose funding
– so that they can secure assets and transform their neighbourhoods for social justice and ecological resilience! Phew.
More on what we’ve been up to below – as well as two new governance resources, an upcoming webinar on Compulsory Purchase Order powers, and links to useful funds.
Cross-sector coalitions are growing
London-Wide Web: Recently we hosted 150 people at City Hall as part of our work with the Greater London Authority’s (GLA’s) high streets team. We shared the emerging proposal for a ‘London-Wide Web’ – a cross-sector coalition between London’s Community Asset Developers, London Funders, London's councils and the GLA – to back Community Asset Developers across the capital to transform their high streets. London-based and want to hear more?
Join the mailing list here.
Pooled funds for community assets: We’re organising philanthropic funders to get much more ambitious and serious about shifting wealth and power to resource Community Asset Developers long-term. We’re working with funders both at a national and London level.
Know anyone who should be at the table? Let us know!
Civic High Street Collective: We’re part of this collective led by our partner Power to Change – convening policy-makers and practitioners to develop policy, delivery and funding models for civic regeneration
Useful resources
Governance 101 for Community Assets: Developed with Footwork, Bob Thust (PG Collective / Hastings Commons) and Julian Lomas (Almond Tree Consulting), this resource covers the foundations of governance, choosing a legal form, and where to get support.
Legal powers quiz: Which legal power could save your local building? Our new quiz, co-produced with Make CIC, walks you through levers like High Street Rental Auctions, Community Right to Buy, Compulsory Purchase Orders, Community Asset Transfers and Meanwhile Use.
London case studies: Inspiring new case studies are live, telling the stories of three pioneers unlocking high streets: Wandsworth Town, where Brendan and Shiza are now negotiating their third building; Mile End, where Juliet and Stour Trust secured an Asset of Community Value award on the long-vacant John Denham building; and Camden, where Dan and Camden Council officers have built trust with 9 early-stage Community Asset Developers – facilitated by Footwork.
Funding
Historic England Neighbourhood Grants: Up to £15k for groups working with under-represented communities and looking to use heritage as a way to shape the future of the neighbourhood.
Deadline: 27 Nov
Green Community Grants Programme: up to £25k for not-for-profits working on nature-recovery and climate action.
Deadline: 21 October
LEF Emerging Justice Fund: up to £75k for ‘by and for’ organisations working on human rights and equality issues through a legal lens.
Deadline: Rolling
Reads & Reflections
PM Andy Burnham announced new funds and policies for high streets, derelict buildings, High Street Rental Auctions and more during his speech at the Labour Party Conference. Summary from The Developer here.
Bex explores what council officers can learn from each other when it comes to unlocking community assets, drawing on stories from Sheffield, Chichester and the Wirral, in a piece for ACES Terrier.
Over summer our team visited Totnes. The trip featured community herb gardens, saunas, Palestinian performers, a housing co-operative story told with a washing-line projector, and the story of Atmos, a community’s 15-year vision and plan for a site that was lost overnight to a private buyer. Read the full reflection.
Thanks for reading!
Bex and the team
