In November 2024, the report Fixing the Foundations: A Communities Strategy for Britain, produced by Power to Change, offered a pertinent vision for tackling the challenges facing communities across the UK. By focusing on three interconnected objectives—cohesion, empowerment, and growth—the report seeks to build stronger, more resilient communities capable of driving their futures. However, one critical avenue for achieving these goals—community media—remains underexplored.
Community-focused media, such as community radio, local news platforms, and hyper-local storytelling initiatives, are uniquely positioned to foster social connections, amplify local voices, and strengthen the social economy. This blog explores the potential of community media to complement the report’s strategy, emphasising the necessity of developing a social engagement model tailored to its implementation.
Why a New Communities Strategy is Needed
The need for a refreshed communities strategy is clear. Many localities across Britain face intersecting challenges: social fragmentation, declining trust in institutions, disempowerment, and economic marginalisation. The report responds to these challenges by calling for policies that:
- Promote cohesion through trust and shared experiences.
- Enable empowerment by granting communities ownership of resources and decision-making.
- Drive growth by embedding localised, sustainable economic activity into the heart of community renewal.
Yet, as the report highlights, these goals require long-term commitment and innovative approaches. This is where community media can play a transformative role—connecting people, giving communities a voice, and driving change from the grassroots.
Media’s Role in Building Cohesion
One of the report’s key findings is that social cohesion forms the foundation for resilient communities. Trust and positive social contact between groups are essential for addressing local challenges and building vibrant, inclusive societies. Community media offers a powerful tool for fostering this cohesion:
- A Platform for Dialogue: Community media can bridge divides by hosting conversations on shared values, concerns, and aspirations. For example, the report’s mention of cultural spaces like Café Laziz in St. Helens shows how shared activities create understanding—a concept easily amplified by media.
- Celebrating Local Stories: Highlighting local successes, such as the transformation of Stretford Public Hall into a thriving hub, reinforces a sense of pride and belonging.
- Conflict Resolution: Media platforms can act as neutral spaces to address tensions and promote reconciliation through constructive dialogue.
Empowering Communities Through Media Ownership
The report emphasises the importance of community ownership in fostering empowerment. This principle extends to community media:
- Owning the Narrative: Media platforms owned and operated by communities allow residents to shape their stories, ensuring diverse and representative voices are heard.
- Participation and Agency: Involving local people in content creation fosters skills development, civic engagement, and collective ownership.
- Advocacy and Influence: Community media can amplify grassroots concerns, enabling communities to shape policy decisions—aligning with recommendations such as the proposed “Community Right to Shape Services.”
Supporting Growth and the Social Economy
Community media also has the potential to contribute to economic growth by strengthening the local social economy:
- Promoting Local Enterprises: Community media can provide a platform for small businesses and social enterprises, creating a virtuous cycle of local economic support.
- Job Creation: From journalism to technical production roles, community media can generate employment opportunities within disadvantaged areas.
- Capacity Building: Media platforms can act as training hubs, equipping residents with transferable skills in communication, digital technology, and business management.
A Social Engagement Model for Community Media
To maximise the potential of community media, a tailored social engagement model is essential. This model should:
- Invest in Infrastructure: Secure long-term funding for community media facilities and operations through initiatives like the Community Wealth Fund.
- Promote Participatory Governance: Establish democratic structures that allow local people to guide media organisations’ priorities and content.
- Support Skills Development: Provide training in media production, journalism, and storytelling, with a focus on underrepresented groups.
- Foster Collaboration: Encourage partnerships between media outlets, local authorities, and civic organisations to create cohesive and impactful messaging.
- Align with Broader Strategies: Integrate community media into Local Growth Plans and other civic renewal initiatives to ensure alignment with wider policy goals.
As Fixing the Foundations highlights, achieving a cohesive, empowered, and growth-driven vision for Britain’s communities requires innovative, locally led approaches. Community media—with its ability to connect, empower, and drive local economies—must be a cornerstone of this strategy.
It’s time that policymakers, community organisations, and media practitioners join the conversation about how we can all use the media to make a positive difference to our fellow citizens in our communities. Together, we need to think about and discuss how we can develop a robust social engagement model that ensures community media fulfils its potential as a transformative force in the renewal of civic society and the social economy. Let’s start building the foundations for change—one story at a time.