How to find existing collective action projects near you
Not everyone wants to start something from scratch. In fact, one of the most powerful things about ACTionism is recognising that you do not have to. The chances are there is already something happening near you — a community energy project, a food co-op, a repair café, a housing group — that could use your help, ideas and energy. So when it comes to finding the others, why not start there.
This page is a growing collection of ways to find those projects and start acting together. If you know of something we have missed, please let us know.
What's Happening Near You?
Thanks to the brilliant work of Matt Golding and the team at Antidote, there is now a postcode search tool that finds up to five examples of collective action within five miles of your front door. It is a fantastic asset and a great place to start.
Community-owned and locally-run energy projects are happening all over the UK — from solar co-ops to wind turbines owned by the people who live beneath them. Matt and the Antidote team have mapped many of them.
Community Led Homes — a partnership resource covering everything from how to find an existing project to what community-led housing actually looks like in practice.
Check out the Community-led housing guides on My Community too
Repair and Reuse
If repair is your thing, check out the Re-Action Collective — our brilliant sister network co-founded by Gavin Fernie-Jones, Heather Davies, and Ellie Meredith (who you may know from the ACTionism film). Re-Action connects repairers, resellers, rental businesses, and circular economy organisations — particularly in the outdoor sector — with the shared aim of keeping kit in use, skills alive, and communities connected. You can find their member map and join the collective here.
Transition Together — lists many local groups running repair and reuse projects as part of broader community sustainability work
Democracy and Governance
Mapping is still catching up with the reality on the ground — a huge amount is happening — and we are still building out this section. If you know of projects or resources we should include here, please do get in touch — and give Matt at Antidote a shout too.
Dem Next — a resource for alternative governance projects.
Citizens Assembly UK — information and background on how citizens assemblies work.
Broader Sustainability and Climate Action
If you are looking for a community group working across multiple themes — energy, food, transport, biodiversity — check out Transition Network and Transition Together. Between them, they connect hundreds of local groups across the UK who are quietly taking action together, one community at a time.
This page is a living document. Know something we have missed? Tell us about it.
Thanks to Antidote Studio for all the work they're doing pulling maps together around these collective action projects.
Find Your People: Organisations Building Community Ownership and Community Power
A growing list of organisations, networks and individuals helping people discover, join and build community-owned projects across the UK and beyond.
Antidote shares stories of ordinary neighbourhoods doing something extraordinary — from community-owned energy and housing to people-powered high streets. Their brilliant postcode search tool finds examples of collective action within five miles of your front door: just type in your postcode and discover the projects already happening near you.
Screw This, Let's Try Something Else (podcast)
Listen:Apple PodcastsPeople: Matt Golding and Maryam Pasha
A road trip around the UK visiting communities who've had enough of waiting and are proving there are better ways to approach food, energy, housing and decision-making. From people-owned power in Bristol to a Shropshire farm with 8,000 community landlords, each episode shows what's possible when neighbourhoods take matters into their own hands. Brian Eno called it "a podcast of hope-filled stories that could genuinely change the world".
Platform Places is a UK-wide, cross-sector movement working to change the culture of property ownership in our town centres and unlock empty high-street buildings for community use. It convenes Local Property Partnerships that bring councils, community entrepreneurs and asset owners around the same table — quite literally, often over dinner. Co-founder Bex Trevalyan also co-founded Library of Things, the borrowing network that grew across London's high streets.
A peer solidarity network for Community Asset Developers — locally-led organisations taking on land and buildings to transform their neighbourhoods and build local power and wealth for the long term. Between them, members have unlocked over 100 buildings for community use and created affordable spaces for thousands of community organisations. Their site includes a map of member projects across England, so you can see who's doing this work near you.
A global collective of community organisations, repairers and citizens keeping outdoor clothing and equipment in use through sharing, repairing and repurposing — making the outdoors more affordable and accessible while cutting waste. Re-Action champions community-first, circular alternatives to the buy-use-discard model, and created the #CitizenFriday campaign as a joyful counter to Black Friday: share, repair, and get out in the fresh air.
One of the UK's leading social impact investment companies, managing funds that channel capital into social enterprises, community-led projects and safe, affordable housing. Their Resonance Community Developers fund exists specifically to help communities create and own income-generating assets — from affordable homes to sports facilities and renewable energy projects — so that value stays local.
The independent trust that backs community business across England, funding and championing locally rooted enterprises that are accountable to their communities — from community-owned pubs and shops to energy schemes and high-street hubs. Their research and campaigning make the case for community-powered places, and their reports on community ownership are an excellent starting point for anyone exploring the field.
A think tank and network of local councils with a mission to transform public services and unlock community power. New Local's work on the "Community Power" paradigm argues that communities themselves — not distant institutions — should be at the heart of decision-making, and their research, events and practical guides help councils and communities make that shift.
The UK's leading think tank working for an economy that serves people and planet. NEF combines rigorous research with campaigning on issues from housing and work to community wealth building and local economies, developing practical alternatives that put economic power in the hands of ordinary people.
The national membership network for community organisations in England, supporting thousands of locally rooted groups that own buildings, run services and strengthen neighbourhoods. Locality provides practical help with community asset ownership and asset transfer, and campaigns nationally for the powers and funding communities need to shape their own places.
A newsletter and network connecting the people and projects building a wellbeing economy — one that supports all of us, not just billionaires. Every week, Jess shares stories from the hundreds of movements creating real alternatives (cooperatives, community land trusts, community wealth building and more), plus events, resources and practical steps for getting started where you live.
Popular
Website:www.popular.org.ukPeople: Oliver Holtaway, Dan Gregory and Zoe Walshe
A social infrastructure practice offering research and advisory work on the community spaces, assets and connections that hold neighbourhoods together. Their work spans community ownership, high-street renewal and neighbourhood social infrastructure — including the Pride in Parades reports on reviving local shopping parades — and co-founder Oliver Holtaway helped take Bath City FC into community ownership.
A practical workshop programme from worker co-operative Stir to Action, training a new generation of community asset leaders. Sessions cover everything from an introduction to community assets through to engaging local people, choosing legal structures, raising investment through community shares and negotiating asset transfers — with study visits to inspiring projects like Hastings Commons and Stretford Public Hall.
