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The Prime Minister has made strategic authorities a key part of his plans for national economic growth, asking metro mayors to produce Local Growth Plans for their regions. Power to Change’s new report, 'Lessons in local growth', argues that alongside boosting high growth industries these growth plans provide a timely opportunity to create inclusive growth, by working with organisations in the social economy – like community businesses, co-operatives and social enterprises.
Join Power to Change and regional and local partners as we launch our new report and discuss how strategic authorities can help drive inclusive local growth through partnership and support for local social economy organisations.

• How can we rethink engagement and social value from tender to legacy to create Better Places Together?
• What changes can we make to promote a shift from tokenism to trusted conversations?
• Are there opportunities to deliver more meaningful engagement that enables us to successfully listen to and advocate for less-heard voices?
• Can we improve social value initiatives to ensure they genuinely create long term change, not short-term solutions?

In recent years, engagement and social value have become buzzwords in the sector, featuring as key requirements in tenders and a focus of discussion at built environment forums. Whilst the conversation is positive, the reality on the ground can often be fraught with challenges. Better Places Together Conference is a programme of collaboration and action from PLACED. Open to all, it will explore how rethinking the approach to engagement and social value can create better places for everyone.

The theme for Refugee Week 2025 is “Community as a Superpower” - Community is the incredible everyday. Ordinary and extraordinary. Simple acts of shared generosity. Kindness multiplied to become an unstoppable force!
Could you join the Diocese of London for an hour in Refugee Week to learn more about how you could partner with WEA [Workers Education Association] to host their ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) classes in your church?

2025 marks the 40th Anniversary of the publication of the influential report of Archbishop Runcie’s Commission on Urban Priority Areas. While the Thatcher government rejected it as “naive Marxism, and largely ignored its recommendations to the nation, it was followed by more than a decade of extensive initiatives in urban mission in the Church of England and other denominations.
Much has changed over 40 years, but issues of urban poverty and injustice have not disappeared, and there are few signs that Churches and other Christian activity are flourishing in such places. Indeed there are signs that neither government nor church are making them a priority for action and investment, and that people living there are increasingly feeling left behind.
This conference, one of a series of events across the country, is a chance to reflect on the theology and practice of urban mission, then and now. There will be input from leading practitioners who were involved in the 1980s, and those who are leading mission and church activities today.
It will be of interest to anyone who lives and works in the inner city, or on social housing estates. We hope it will encourage and inform, and be a catalyst for a renewed movement to develop Faith in the City and hope in urban churches and communities.