Policy

Community action is when people come together to do what matters to them or what their area needs. Many community groups told us they feel their work is often overlooked, undervalued, or misunderstood by public bodies. This contrasts with experiences during the pandemic which fleetingly focused the attitudes of policy makers and public sector managers in support of community action.

Disappointingly, this high spot in recognition and respect for community-led activity was short lived and has not resulted in lasting change across Wales.

To recognise the role community organisations increasingly play in supporting and enhancing wellbeing of all types the next Welsh Government must introduce and implement a Communities Policy, which  

• embeds the work of community organisations in all relevant policy areas  

• requires the public sector to work in partnership with community organisations, and  

• channels existing funding more effectively to community organisations where and when they are best placed to deliver. 

  We want to see  

• simplified partnership arrangements  

• investment in Community Teams, either in County Voluntary Councils or local authorities to aid effective collaboration  

• guaranteed roles for communities in UK-wide neighbourhood initiatives underpinned by Welsh Government guidance 

Current approaches to resourcing community action are erratic and overwhelmingly short-term in nature. Community groups maintain vital local facilities but often struggle with unstable, short-term funding and complex procurement processes. Our workshops exposed a palpable sense of frustration with the “compulsive need to reinvent the wheel” to access funding and resources for activities which either already exist or are proven to work.

We want to see  

• the adoption and implementation of the Funding Code of Practice

• a simplified grants system: which merges existing funds and ensures multiyear and long-term funding focused on outcomes not activities 

• funding for the voluntary and community sector to tackle poverty and support preventative health and wellbeing channelled through County Voluntary Councils, to ensure procedures are suited to the needs of the sector 

• procurement and commissioning that is flexible, proportionate, and shaped by ongoing collaboration with community organisations to support sustainability and shared success 

• a commitment that all funding from Welsh Government (and arms-length bodies) to the voluntary and community sector is payable in advance, ending a payment in arrears approach 

Many of the groups we spoke to are community anchor organisations. They are locally based organisations, led by local people, easily accessible, widely connected to strong local networks and involved in a wide range of local activities. 

We want to see: the creation of an endowment fund.

To secure the future of community anchor organisations that underpin vital work, we propose the creation of an endowment fund. This fund would provide long-term, flexible investment for these essential, yet often overlooked organisations, enabling them to continue playing their crucial role in supporting communities and supporting their development in disadvantaged communities without such key organisations.  

Community assets are a key part of local life: places where people can meet, connect and have fun, where friendships can grow and problems can be shared. They are also spaces that provide opportunities for refuge, support and assistance in times of crisis.

Community spaces are vital for preventing and responding to local needs—but they are at risk of disappearing fast. Since May 2021, more than 400 council-owned assets in Wales, worth around £51 million, have been sold or disposed of.

Legislative approaches in England and Scotland grant communities a right to bid for or buy land and assets. Here in Wales, where no such rights exist, communities are the least empowered in terms of community ownership rights. Instead, they face an arduous, lengthy and costly process with no guarantee of success.  

We want to see the introduction of a Community Right to Buy assets, land or buildings at risk of loss, backed by a right of first refusal for assets coming on to the market. This right must incorporate a register of Assets of Community Value, with 12-month moratorium period, and be accompanied by revenue and capital funding to maximise its transformational potential.  

To support the new right and funding, there should be a holistic package of ongoing support and guidance to give community groups the best chance of success at managing assets sustainably. This should include measures such as:  

• an 18 month spend window for capital funding  

• protecting and enhancing the Community Facilities Programme budget, to include revenue and capital costs, with annual uplifts equivalent to inflation, at a minimum