Community wealth building | Blagrave Trust

Community wealth building is a place-based approach to economic development that focuses on keeping wealth within communities and using it to deliver shared, long-term benefit. It is about creating a resilient and inclusive economy for the benefit of the local area, and emphasises democratic ownership, the development of shared community assets such as buildings and spaces, and inclusive participation.

Blagrave's definition

Key principles of Community Wealth Building

Plural ownership of the economy

Fostering local, socially-oriented enterprises – such as worker co-operatives, community land trusts, and municipal enterprises – rather than relying on external corporations.

Making financial power work for local places

Increasing the flow of investment within local economies by supporting local financial institutions such as credit unions and community banks to recirculate wealth.

Fair employment and just labour markets

Using large local employers ("anchor institutions") to provide decent, living-wage jobs, improve worker welfare, and create opportunities for local residents.

Progressive procurement

Utilising the purchasing power of anchor institutions (like councils, universities and hospitals) to build local supply chains – keeping spending within the local economy.

Socially just use of land and property

Managing land and property assets to maximise social and economic value for local communities, rather than solely for speculative financial gain.

Our programme was designed to build understanding of how young people and their communities can own and manage the places that matter to them.

Across England, community spaces — youth centres, neighbourhood halls, green spaces and more — have been closed, sold off, or left to decline, as local authorities grapple with restricted budgets and rising costs. In many places, this has given rise to extraordinary determination from local community leaders who want to reclaim and steward these assets for collective benefit.

At Blagrave, we believe that if community assets are to be held in community for the long term, for the benefit of future generations, young people need accessible pathways into shaping, stewarding and co-owning community assets.

We're therefore committed to understanding how young people can be meaningfully centred in community ownership, and have spent time exploring how it's done, with inspiring partners who are already doing it.

Programme activities

Grants

We made core grants of £10-20K to support pioneers in the community wealth building or community asset development field, replacing grant monitoring reports with learning exchanges; e.g. partners would facilitate a visit for our team to see their work in action.

Research

We commissioned research to understand the landscape, where the gaps are and how youth engagement and leadership can be better centered.

Grant partners spotlight

Grant partner

Pelican House

Pelican House is a democratically run social centre in East London, home to 50+ organisations and a thriving hub for community organising, culture, and collaboration.

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Grant partner

Coffee Afrik CIC

Coffee Afrik CIC is a Black-led organisation building community power through healing, governance, and innovation, turning lived experience into systems change.

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Grant partner

Stir to Action

Stir to Action delivers training and programmes on economic democracy, community ownership, and social infrastructure. Its ABCs of Community Assets programme helps develop the next generation of community asset leaders.

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Grant partner

Hastings Commons

Hastings Commons brings derelict buildings into community ownership, creating affordable homes, workspaces, and social spaces in Hastings.

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Research

Mapping community asset development

The Ubele Initiative was commissioned by Blagrave to map the field of community asset development in England in late 2025. Read more here.

The work focused on building a better understanding of the infrastructure that supports community-led development of physical assets, such as land and buildings.

For the results, explore Ubele's community asset mapping microsite or read the full report.

Community asset development is about far more than buildings — it’s about power, belonging and stewardship. If community ownership is to thrive, the sector needs stronger infrastructure, better knowledge sharing, and pathways for young people to lead.

Phil Tulba

Associate Director for Community Wealth Building, The Ubele Initiative

Further research

Research commissioned or written by Blagrave relating to developing our approach to community wealth building.

Community Wealth Building Exploration - Stir to Action

This report captures the Blagrave Trust’s six‑month learning journey into community wealth building, exploring asset ownership, youth‑centred governance, and new investment models.

Governance Possibilities - Callum Pethick

This paper outlines governance options for Blagrave’s future community‑asset hubs, comparing legal structures and models that enable democratic, youth‑centred stewardship.

Community Engagement principles and early considerations - Rochell Rowe

This paper outlines core principles for community engagement—trust, time, and accessible language—emphasising why meaningful, non‑transactional relationships are crucial for Blagrave’s youth‑centred mission.

Mapping The Field of Community Asset Development in England - The Ubele Initiative

This CAD Mapping project provides a publicly accessible microsite visualising England’s community‑asset‑development ecosystem.

What we’ve learned through the programme so far

Infrastructure

There is very little infrastructure directly supporting young people to participate in or lead community asset development.

Leadership

Leadership pathways for young people are uneven and often inaccessible, with few clear routes into meaningful roles.

Exclusion

Young people are often excluded by formal governance structures, expectations around experience and limited awareness of the field.

Knowledge

Knowledge and guidance exist, but are fragmented, outdated or difficult to access, meaning many communities are forced to navigate asset development alone.