Diffley Partnership’s Post

This morning, over 50 community asset developers met online for a ‘mycelial gathering’ — from London to Sunderland, Yorkshire to Cornwall, Margate to Plymouth and more! 🏘 🌆 📍 Big thanks to everyone who joined and shared their insights and challenges on driving neighbourhood-wide transformation. These discussions and connections are crucial as we together shape an emerging peer network of people activating and stewarding land and buildings in their places — with their communities, for the long term. A special shout-out to funders Power to Change, and our co-facilitators / co-convenors, community asset developers Dr Jess Steele, OBE, Melissa Mean and Power to Change trustees. Some highlights from today: 🍄 Mapping our own “mycelium” system, inspired by the work of New Constellations; asking ourselves, what kind of role do we play in our networks (mother trees? connectors?)? How can we be stronger together? 💰 Strategies for devolving long-term financial wealth into the grassroots, including aggregating and mutualising our asset portfolios to access larger patient capital 🔄 Sharing best practice, e.g. on moving from meanwhile use to community ownership and supporting each other in times of crisis 🎉 Celebrating the collaborative spirit that defines this work… Get in touch if you couldn’t make the event and would like to learn more about the movement! #CommunityDevelopment #Collaboration #CommunityResilience #CommunityPower #Placemaking Hannah Sloggett Pauline Johnston Juliet Can Ed Whitelaw brian dawe FRSA Andy Edwards Eddie Bridgeman Sarah Gorman Victoria Barrow Williams Rebecca Trevalyan 📷 Some of the participants in action!

🌍 Empowering Communities Through Water and Sanitation Working directly with communities has reinforced the importance of access to clean water and effective sanitation as a foundation for growth. It’s more than just infrastructure—it’s about addressing the needs of people, ensuring they are heard, and providing the right solutions. One of the key lessons I've learned is that community engagement is essential for sustainable change. Whether it’s educating people about resource conservation, resolving issues, or ensuring fair access, the real impact happens when communities are actively involved and informed. I’m excited about the future of community development, knowing that each step toward better water management brings us closer to healthier and more resilient communities. #CommunityDevelopment #WaterAndSanitation #Sustainability #Empowerment #ResourceManagement #Growth

What are #SpongeCities and how we can adapt urban areas to beat the rain? Stantec’s Elliot Gill offered his insight and experience for a fantastic feature in The Times. In this piece by Melissa York, he outlines the benefits of integrating more blue-green infrastructure into society, reiterating the role of #NatureBasedSolutions in supporting community wellbeing and resilience. https://ow.ly/v10G50ToRV1

No. I didn’t join a commune, but that may be more in the eye of the beholder. Back in September of last year, through some opportunistic circumstances and a desire to bring more community into my life, I met with some like-minded people who believed there was another way we could exist together. Much of what is happening in the world these days are symptoms of a deeper fracture in how we work, live, and interact with one another. It was like a lightbulb went on, and within 7 days, I joined them in creating an intentional community. There are all kinds of intentional communities. A kibbutz The army Co-housing Cooperatives Friends who decide to buy a block together A church A cult A company They are groups of people who bond together, most often living together in some capacity, frequently sharing some things, with a purpose or intention. The community I am a part of is a socially sustainable eco-cohousing community. Lots of words, and many are interpreted differently so I’ll describe it as: A community where people purchase or rent their house, but also buy into the common facilities they share (sounds a bit like a Condo or Strata this way). But in this case, the governance and decision-making are self-organizing, in a way that is in balance with the land, with a commitment to grow together as a group. I will share my community intention (because that is what sets communities apart and gives them their mojo) the next time I post although a clue is in the word sustainable. But I’d be happy to answer other questions 🙂.

In an op-ed for Smart Cities Dive, Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) CEO Michael T. Pugh and Enterprise Community Partners CEO Shaun Donovan weigh in on how climate and community development are fundamentally part of the same whole. This is the premise of our new book, What’s Possible: Investing NOW for Prosperous, Sustainable Neighborhoods, which was co-published by our two organizations along with the Federal Reserve Bank of New York For investments in green community development to be successful, they argue, the work must be guided by strategies that prioritize community input and involvement. Read more at the link below: https://lnkd.in/g6usKbYp

In our quest for more inclusive communities, it's vital we address one of the most pressing issues: Affordable Housing. 🌍✨ Navigating affordable housing isn't just about finding a place to live; it's about creating opportunities, fostering diversity, and building strong foundations for families and individuals. 🏡💖 🔑 Here are key points we're focusing on: Innovative Financing: Exploring creative ways to fund affordable housing projects. Community Partnerships: Collaborating with local organizations to identify needs and solutions. Sustainable Development: Ensuring that affordable housing is also environmentally friendly. We believe everyone deserves a place to call home, and we're committed to making that a reality. 🌟 Join us in this journey. Share your thoughts, stories, and solutions. Together, we can make a difference. 💪 #AffordableHousing #CommunityBuilding #InclusiveSolutions

Trust, Transparency, and Corporate Responsibility in Community Development The California Forever project's approach has sparked controversy: Initial land purchases were made through a front company, creating distrust Lawsuits against non-selling farmers further damaged community relations Despite $7 million in marketing, the project faced significant local opposition This situation underscores the importance of transparency and community engagement in large-scale projects. How can companies better align their objectives with community values and build trust from the outset? #CorporateResponsibility #CommunityRelations #BusinessEthics