Power to Change Trust

The Trust funds community-led activities that drive local economic regeneration, including asset ownership of pubs, shops, town halls and heritage buildings; inclusive high streets that revitalise vacant spaces for social enterprise; energy resilience projects tackling fuel poverty and climate adaptation; digital capacity building; culture and heritage preservation; community-led housing; and organisational resilience. They support business development, renovation of key assets, food security through community kitchens, arts and wellbeing programmes, employability training, and innovative responses to social isolation and poverty. Their work covers England, with a focus on challenged urban, rural and post-industrial communities.

Registered charities, social enterprises and community groups based in England are eligible. The Trust prioritises organisations that are locally rooted, democratically accountable and trade for broad social benefit. Beneficiaries include local residents, marginalised communities, ethnic minorities, low-income families, and rural and post-industrial populations. They seek grassroots enterprises with evidence-based interventions and a collaborative approach.

The Trust does not fund individuals, schools, for-profit businesses or non-trading charities that lack local accountability or enterprise elements. They focus solely on organisations demonstrating broad community benefit through trading.

The Trust provides grants alongside blended finance, sector-leading research and national advocacy. They welcome unsolicited applications and favour collaborative, innovative grassroots models. Their approach emphasises capacity building, leverage of additional resources and long-term systems change over temporary aid.