It is rooted in the understanding that communities have the knowledge, skills and assets to know
themselves how best to respond to challenges and to thrive.
But community power is so much more than just an idea or principle. It already exists in the real world, and there is an amazing variety of community power practices, initiatives and approaches. From the innovative ways councils are involving communities in decision-making processes – like Barking and Dagenham LBC’s participatory grant making panel or Newham LBC’s planned trial of a standing citizens’ assembly – to mutual aid groups and the hubs set up during the pandemic.