Policy spotlight 1: How social infrastructure improves outcomes

In this first paper of a series, we explore the importance of neighbourhood-level social infrastructure in building strong, cohesive and prosperous communities.

Our policy spotlight series reviews the evidence backing up Local Trust’s central belief: that strong communities, with the power and resources to make key decisions on what is best for their areas, have the potential to transform outcomes.

This paper summarises research evidence on:

• the continuing loss of our social infrastructure
• how social infrastructure builds social capital, improves economic outcomes, and boosts the civic pride which is the heart of effective community action
• how the poorest communities have been hardest hit by the social infrastructure crisis
• the importance of investing in social infrastructure, and how a Community Wealth Fund could do this at no cost to the Exchequer whilst bringing considerable benefits.