Community Power is the idea that communities (of place, experience, and interest) should be given much greater say and control over the decisions, services, amenities, and places that shape their lives.

Communities have a wealth of knowledge, skills and assets, which mean they themselves are well placed to identify and respond to any challenges that they face. It is important that the council helps to empower communities to use these skills to find solutions to issues they face.

An example of Community Power in action is the Veterans Hub Project in Barnwell, Cambridge. Previously known as the Joint Ex-Services Club, the site was established in 1983. However, after the pandemic the club began to struggle and was at risk of closure.

Unwilling to let a hub of the community disappear, the Joint Ex-Services club’s committee agreed a ’vision’ in July 2024; to create the ‘Joint Services and Veterans Club’, a welfare hub, where veterans and the wider community can gain access to a wide range of support organisations and signposting.  Since then, the veteran community have:

• refurbished the interior and exterior elements of the site. Using their own networks and partnering with several building companies and tradesmen, they successfully secured agreement to carry out all the works onsite and supply all labour and materials necessary, pro bono

• agreed for the site to house 4 or 5 homeless pods, specifically set aside for Armed Forces Veterans. Giving inhabitants direct access to the hub and its facilities, as well as providing potential volunteer opportunities within ‘their’ community

• agreed to open the building up during non-club hours, to be used as a community space during the hours it is open as a community access centre.

• veterans have also agreed to run the club on a voluntary basis to increase income and decrease outgoings, to rebuild the club’s current financial situation

• submitted a preliminary application for planning permission to install 3 ‘exterior’ units, which they hope will be utilised for the local community as well as the club members, this is currently awaiting funding for fee’s​

• in the future, there are plans to incorporate the wider emergency services into the membership of the club, hoping to build a wider group of ‘community driven/minded’ people.

Building Community Power: Community Development Officer supporting the veterans hub

A Community Development Officer supported this work since January 2022. They highlighted how the group came together with ideas and innovation, leveraging their existing networks and resources to create a dynamic hub that serves both veterans and the wider community. 

What does supporting Community Power look like?

• Support for the Armed Forces and Veteran community has involved establishing relationships, being visible and trusted, and bringing community members together.
• Efforts have included addressing individual veterans' challenges, such as homelessness, by creating a supportive environment that builds on shared experiences and mutual understanding.
• Facilitation has also extended to activities chosen by the group, such as hosting an Armed Forces Day in summer 2024. As many group members had no prior event management experience, assistance was provided to develop an event plan, refine ideas, and set realistic goals. This support ensured the community could realise their ambitions effectively.
• Bringing people with shared experiences together has proven to be a powerful motivator, enabling them to unite and work together towards a common goal.

It is important that the council collaborates with communities, rather than doing things to communities, wherever possible. The City Council can play an important role in bringing people with shared experiences and/or goals together, which motivate them to work together towards a common aim.

We can also facilitate Community Wealth Building through sharing and developing knowledge, skills, opportunities (including relating to funding) and connections for communities. These resources can support them in designing and developing solutions to meet their priorities and tackle issues they face.