Platform Places

Growing the movement for locally-led neighbourhood transformation: Footwork and Platform Places join forces — Platform Places Footwork Trust and Platform Places are integrating to strengthen the ecosystem of neighbourhood innovators

It’s official 💚 We've joined forces with @footworktrust.bsky.social, our long-time collaborators!

We’ve formally integrated, so we can better facilitate & grow the movement for community-led neighbourhood transformation 🏘️🪄

Read about our ‘civic partnership’ 💍 www.platformplaces.com/news/footwor...

You’re invited to dinner: The unlikely allies reimagining our high streets - Power to Change Platform Places shows how community leaders, local business owners, asset owners and councils can gather—not as adversaries, but as co-creators of a shared ...

Bex at @platformplaces.bsky.social telling the story of Platform Places - from a series of roundtables hosted with @powertochange.org.uk to an independent organisation and growing movement of places forging unlikely partnerships to turn around their town centres.

BIG thanks to:

✳️ Deana Bamford and team for welcoming and hosting

✳️ Our programme funder @tnlcommunityfund.org.uk

#PeerSupport #CommunityAssets #LocalPropertyPartnership #NationalLottery

Community power on the high street: Taking on buildings for local transformation — Platform Places Highlights & How-tos | 6 months of the Local Property Partnerships pilot (2024-2027)

💡 And they're sharing what they're learning, for others doing and supporting this work.

See the latest programme highlights and how-tos: www.platformplaces.com/local-proper...

📸 View our photo diary on Instagram: www.instagram.com/stories/high...

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They came from Sheffield, Bristol, London, Newcastle & Liverpool, to connect, get inspired & exhale from the day-to-day of securing buildings for local transformation.

The space to be together, share support & resources creates collective strength & power for what's happening on the ground.

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📍 Peer power in action, supporting each other's local missions 💚

In Coalville C.A.N 's beautiful community hub of makers, creators, educators, art, radio and more, the five pilot Local Property Partnerships gathered for two days.

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A big step forward for the campaign for communities to own the places and spaces that matter to them ✨🏘️

Well done to all organisations and individuals who have been relentlessly campaigning.

Sign @right-here.org's petition to see community powers go further: actionnetwork.org/petitions/co...

🧱 📍How many dream buildings got away?

🗺️ 🤝 How many did you have to map, scope, assess or lose to commercial offers, before securing your community asset?

Explore the early highlights, learnings & practical tips from the pilot Local Property Partnerships: www.platformplaces.com/local-proper...

You’re invited to dinner: The unlikely allies reimagining our high streets - Power to Change Platform Places shows how community leaders, local business owners, asset owners and councils can gather—not as adversaries, but as co-creators of a shared ...

"It started with a question, over Zoom, in lockdown: Who are we not talking to?"

✍️ Read our cofounder Bex's reflections on the #PlatformPlaces cross-sector movement — and how (with @powertochange.org.uk and many others) we're seeing the next 10 years of community-led high streets.

#PowertoChange10

In five neighbourhoods – from Darnall Ward to Wandsworth Town – community leaders are seeding & strengthening local property partnerships to unlock multiple spaces for community use & ownership:

Explore what’s emerging, with practical tips & insights: www.platformplaces.com/local-proper...

📣 Calling all community organisations: If you want more #CommunityPower, sign our letter to the Prime Minister.

Our campaign leader, Sacha Bedding, has written an open letter urging the government to grant more power to local people.

✍️ Will you sign the letter?
actionnetwork.org/petitions/co...

Community power on the high street: Taking on buildings for local transformation — Platform Places Highlights & How-tos | 6 months of the Local Property Partnerships pilot (2024-2027)

Local leaders in five neighbourhoods – in Sheffield, Liverpool City Region, Newcastle, London and Bristol – are driving this work through the pilot programme of #LocalPropertyPartnerships (funded by @tnlcommunityfund.org.uk)

👉 Want to do this in your neighbourhood? Explore early tips & takeaways ⬇️

The path varies place to place, but key steps show up again & again:

🍲 Convening representative local leaders

📍Visioning & ownership mapping

🏘️ Identifying key buildings & commissioning feasibility studies

💡 Negotiations & fundraising

🧱 Creating organisational structures to steward assets

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🧩🔑 “These aren’t quick wins; it takes time to build trust, credibility and relationships, before anything’s negotiated, signed or sealed.” – Erika Rushton, Kindred LCR

Transforming your neighbourhood by acquiring community assets is a long journey of twists and turns...

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three people sat down

In this essay, the latest in our 10th anniversary collection, @platformplaces.bsky.social co-founder, Bex Trevalyan, explores how grassroots collaboration & imaginative placemaking are breathing life into Britain’s high streets 👉 buff.ly/4gfEioE #PowertoChange10

A week ago already! Thank you to everyone who came 'footworking' into our office last Tuesday, with generous stories, ideas and inspiration for neighbourhood transformation 👣

Read our CEO Naomi Rubbra's reflections: www.linkedin.com/posts/naomi-...

Here’s a brief clip from Marmalade Festival. We’ll be sharing more soon, but for now, we’d love to invite you to further unpack our vision for change with us in a one-hour webinar and Q&A.

🗓️ Thursday 17th July 2025, 12–1pm
📍Online
🎟️ Free, sign up via link in bio

Kitty's turns 6 this year🎈 What better birthday treat than helping them hit the road with a solar-powered delivery van, so even more local businesses and households can benefit?

Visit the crowdfunding campaign ⬇️

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🎨 Illustrations in this thread are by Visual Thinkery. Photos by Platform Places.

So when we ask:

✳️ 'How can we generate vibrancy and footfall across UK town centres, in ways that serve local needs?'

The answer is:

✳️ 'Through community-powered property uses like this!'

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By day and evening, it's also a welcoming place of community, care and connection. People come together to chat, keep warm, watch films, share skills, host talks and enjoy live music 🎶

At Kitty's, £43 in local social value is generated for every £1 spent or invested 🙌

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Just off a main street in the Anfield and Everton area of Liverpool, a small team of residents runs the lively Kitty’s Launderette 👚 ☕

Local people and businesses drop by for affordable, high-quality laundry services powered by renewable energy.

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They're recruiting two programme co-leads who will be instrumental in securing long-term, affordable and secure homes for the groups, projects and businesses that make Bedminster thrive.

Find out more ⬇️

bedminsterworks.co.uk/news-and-ins...

#BedminsterWorks

Join Us: Bedminster Works is Hiring Two Programme Co-Leads - Bedminster Works Are you passionate about community-led development and transforming spaces into useful, affordable and welcoming places? Bedminster Works is on the lookout for two dynamic Programme Co-Leads to help s...

🪄 With a new name, new CIC, and exciting ambitions for community-led assets, now's your chance to help shape Bedminster Works (one of the five pilot #LocalPropertyPartnerships).

YouTube video by Power to Change Power to Change - celebrating ten years backing community business

📣 We know community business works to create thriving places. We have seen and evidenced it over the last decade. We also know there is so much more they can do. This year we are reflecting, celebrating, and looking to the future.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=aSa-...
#PowertoChange10

Community power on the high street: Taking on buildings for local transformation — Platform Places Highlights & How-tos | 6 months of the Local Property Partnerships pilot (2024-2027)

New reflections from @platformplaces.bsky.social‬ on their Local Property Partnerships pilot.

Including emerging lessons on securing buildings and building partnerships, and practical advice for community leaders and power-holders to drive locally-led neighbourhood transformation.

🌱✨ “This work and funding has been transformational; we’re now able to think and act long-term” — Kisha Bradley, Brightbox (lead local partner, Darnall Ward)

🎨 Thanks to Visual Thinkery and Naomi for beautiful illustrations

@powertochange.org.uk @archhfund.org.uk

Community power on the high street: Taking on buildings for local transformation — Platform Places Highlights & How-tos | 6 months of the Local Property Partnerships pilot (2024-2027)

🔸A 10-year social value lease agreed in Wandsworth Town

🔸A whole row of units unlocked in St Helens

🔸Reimagining a heritage Darnall pub as a social justice hub

🔸…and more.

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➡️ Explore the stories here: www.platformplaces.com/local-proper...

Community power on the high street: Taking on buildings for local transformation — Platform Places Highlights & How-tos | 6 months of the Local Property Partnerships pilot (2024-2027)

Here’s a taster of what’s happening in neighbourhoods in Sheffield, Liverpool City Region, Newcastle, Bristol and London, driven by the community partners we’re working with:

🔸60+ local leaders convened around ‘dinner tables’
🔸100+ partnerships developing
🔸20+ buildings shortlisted & pursued

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What happens when communities start holding power to acquire buildings and transform their places? 🏘️📍

6 months into the #LocalPropertyPartnerships pilot, funded by @tnlcommunityfund.org.uk, we’re excited to share the emerging highlights and learnings from 5 places 🏙️

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Wandsworth Town Property Partnership and ARC LRE Ltd Sign Landmark 10-Year Social Value Lease for Former Salvation Army Site on Ram Street — Platform Places Wandsworth Town Property Partnership (WTPP) and local developer ARC LRE Ltd have agreed to enter into an innovative 10-year social value lease as part of the proposed development of the former Salvati...

Wandsworth Town Property Partnership is part of the pilot programme of #LocalPropertyPartnerships, supported by The #NationalLottery Community Fund.

Read more: www.platformplaces.com/news/wandswo...

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