Growing the movement for locally-led neighbourhood transformation: Footwork and Platform Places join forces

Naomi Rubbra
Aug 5
4 min read

We’re formally integrating our organisations this summer. Here’s why, and what that means…

Over the past few years, our work at Footwork and Platform Places has naturally started to connect.

We've been championing the same approaches: supporting community innovators to create socially just and climate-safe places, by enabling them to transform local land and buildings, bring bold ideas to life, and lead cross-sector partnerships.

We've been weaving peer networks, sharing resources, and convening unlikely allies, including councils, community leaders, property owners, funders and built environment practitioners committed to doing things differently.

And, increasingly, we’ve been working side by side, as teams.

Pictured: Footwork & Platform Places teams & partners together. From left to right, by row: Visiting Hastings Commons with 'People and Place' community innovators (July '25); Our core teams in Margate for a joint away day (July '25); 'Local Property Partnerships' gathering at Coalville CAN (July '25); Co-facilitating a Stronger Things '24 workshop; Co-facilitating a gathering of the Mycelial Network at Hawkwood (June '25); Co-facilitating a workshop at Stir to Action Festival (July '24); Community innovators from 'People and Place' & 'Local Property Partnerships' in Liverpool (Sept '24); Gathering to kick off 'People and Place 2025' at Good Shepherd Studios, Leytonstone (Jan '25); With our shared Advisory Group of advisors in the Footwork office (Spring '25).

We’ve always shared a core belief: that in every neighbourhood, local people should have the power to shape the future of their places – and to live affordably, sustainably and together.

To make that possible, communities need the freedom, tools and support to reclaim, revive and then steward the buildings and land around them.

“We already know that community-led regeneration works. But for it to grow, it will take much more than local motivation and resilience; it requires proper resourcing, shared local visions and long-term commitment across sectors. We need to break out of our silos and collaborate.” - Clare Richards, Founder of Footwork Trust

That’s why we’re taking a new step together.

As of July 2025, Footwork and Platform Places are formally integrating, with Platform Places Ltd (Platform Places) now a subsidiary of charity Footwork Trust (Footwork).

We’re calling it a “civic partnership”. We’ll collaborate as equals – keeping our distinct brands and key programmes, as two legal entities with separate Boards. Our respective insights group, ambassadors and cofounding partners remain, while we share a new group of advisors.

By joining forces, we’ll be able to do much more to facilitate and grow the movement for community-led neighbourhood transformation, alongside a rising number of peers, partners and allies doing this work around the country.

What’s brought us here

Between us, we’ve seen what’s possible when people connect, within and across places and sectors, to proactively change conditions and systems, to inspire and empower local leadership.

For the past four years, we’ve collectively built momentum:

40+ local authority and asset owner leaders engaged on enabling community-led transformation.
50+ community innovators connected to share knowledge, resources, and networks, through People and Place.
20+ funders convened to explore better ways to finance long-term community stewardship.
100+ built environment professionals reimagining the sector in live Footworking events.
A £2.5 million Local Property Partnerships pilot programme launched, proving that communities, councils, and asset owners can unlock spaces and funds together.
The Mycelial Network catalysed as a self-governing peer solidarity network for ‘community asset developers’ (locally-led organisations that take on buildings and spaces to transform their neighbourhoods for social justice and climate resilience).
Open-source resources and toolkits, co-created with our networks, to equip emerging community asset developers and local property partnerships beyond our programmes.
A ‘matchmaker’ initiative, connecting asset owners with those needing space on fairer terms.

But this is just a fraction of the potential and need.

“As council fire sales of youth and community centres increase, and polarisation and ecological breakdown worsen, more than ever neighbourhoods need spaces for people to be together, meet needs, and get organised. Evidence shows that partnerships are key to making this happen – but many councils, asset owners, investors and community innovators lack the time, skills and know-how to meet on equal terms. Our shared work lies in growing these capabilities and building bridges, to localise and democratise control of buildings, so communities can shape how spaces are used to meet their needs.” - Frances Northrop, Co-founder of Platform Places, and Head of Community Economic Power at New Economics Foundation.

Working and evolving together

Our teams have already been closely collaborating for the past 18 months. We’ve been supporting one another practically, and enabling a cross-pollination of insights, resources and ideas throughout our networks.

We now know we’re stronger as two organisations in one shared home.

People and Place remains rooted in Footwork (with a focus on supporting emerging local innovators and community asset developers, and collaborating with the built environment industry), whilst Local Property Partnerships continue through Platform Places (along with convening community leaders, asset owners, local authorities and funders nationally).

But now we share one advisory group, senior leaders, an office, a Slack channel, templates, learning, inspiration and networks. Together, we co-facilitate and support the Mycelial Network. Our two tiny teams of 2-3 people are now one stronger team of 6.

illustration depicting building capacity and power and confidence for community innovators to lead powerful partnerships in their neighbourhoods for local transformation.

Image: Pooling our powers & interweaving our programmes. Credit: Visual Thinkery and Naomi

“There are so many people ready to drive change in their neighbourhoods, but they often lack the support, power and partnerships to make that change. Thankfully, someone directed me to the People and Place programme, which offered exactly the support I needed. I experienced what it’s like to be backed in a truly collaborative, enjoyable way, and to grow collective power with peers around the country who are all working on bold local ideas. Now as an incoming Footwork trustee, this next chapter with Platform Places gives me even more hope. It's a live example of how we could all be working together in the ecosystem, to build community-led places everywhere.” – Danie Gilbert, Good Shepherd Studios, incoming Footwork trustee

For those of you collaborating with Footwork and/or Platform Places, all that’s changing is being connected to something bigger; a growing resilience, a deeper pool of shared knowledge and learning, more practical joined-up support, a richer mix of voices and experience, and a ripple effect of locally-led neighbourhood transformation.

Explore our work and get involved at Footwork and Platform Places. For media enquiries, please contact hello@footwork.org.uk.

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