New Centre for Collaboration in Community Connectedness to drive national change in policy and social equity
A ground-breaking £10million research initiative, funded by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), is set to transform community engagement across the UK.
Local Trust, a place-based funder, is a key partner in the newly established Centre for Collaboration in Community Connectedness (C4), led by Sheffield Hallam University. The centre will be at the forefront of shaping future policies to promote equal opportunities and enhance social wellbeing, regardless of where people live.
C4 will bring together an ambitious partnership of leading research institutions, community organisations and policy experts. It will examine the diverse landscape of community activities, analysing what works – and doesn’t – to uncover and share the most effective community action strategies, providing crucial insights that will inform both local and national decision-making.
C4 will focus on key areas including:
- Community: Where people live, their connections with their neighbours and sense of belonging.
- Relationships: Identifying which social interactions are the most meaningful in combating issues including poverty, isolation and mental health challenges.
- Social capital: Looking at the benefits derived from social networks and community relationships.
This research and evidence will help guide policy makers and local authorities to invest where it matters most, as well as highlighting innovative partnerships among researchers and communities to create better community futures.
Local Trust’s head of research, Jayne Humm, said:
“This new Centre for Collaboration in Community Connectedness is an exciting opportunity to use the knowledge Local Trust has gained through the Big Local programme, to help identify the factors and conditions that affect levels of community connectedness and cohesion within and across areas.
“As with all Local Trust’s work, communities will be the focus of the research, with the aim of improving outcomes through new models of community action, responding to challenges including poverty, low levels of health and wellbeing, the climate emergency and weak social cohesion.
“C4 will also drive stronger democratic processes through new community relationships between policy makers and communities.”
C4 is a collaboration between a range of leading community organisations, including Clackmannanshire Third Sector Interface, Darnall Wellbeing, Local Trust, London Metropolitan University, Queen’s University Belfast, The Brixton Project, The Young Foundation and the University of Stirling.
To arrange interviews, please contact: press@localtrust.org.uk
C4 will announce its programme of work in the spring of 2025. We’re excited to have this opportunity to embed the learning from Big Local into future policy and practice, and to expand our work with communities and policy makers across the UK.