Neighbourhood Insights by 3ni
July 2025 |
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3ni supports local government and the wider public sector by promoting community-led, place-based regeneration, drawing on lessons from past initiatives and the pioneering Big Local programme. |
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Neighbourhoods in the spotlight in the Spending Review
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We were very pleased with the news that 350 of the most disadvantaged neighbourhoods in the UK will receive targeted long-term investment “to fund interventions including community cohesion, regeneration and improving the public realm”. The government also announced that 25 ‘Trailblazer neighbourhoods’ would each receive up to £20million over the next ten years to “support improvements people can see on their doorstep, champion local leadership, foster community engagement and strengthen social cohesion”.
19 of the 20 Trailblazers announced in England are those that 3ni has identified as doubly disadvantaged, experiencing both severe socio-economic deprivation and low levels of social infrastructure. It’s great that neighbourhoods that have seen considerable disinvestment over the past few decades and which are grappling with a range of challenges and issues are set to benefit from a long-term approach, game-changing levels of funding and local community leadership over decisions.
We’re waiting to see more details, but are hopeful that the operation of the future fund will reflect our belief that local people are the experts on the issues facing their community, and should be in the driving seat when it comes to neighbourhood renewal and recovery efforts. |
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| | Everybody needs good neighbourhoods 2
Neighbourhood working works. That's what the latest study on Big Local initiatives reveals, with business activity that grew faster, child poverty that slowed and crime rates that fell.
Read the report on Local Trust's website |
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| | Stronger Things
Earlier this month, we had the pleasure of attending the 2025 Stronger Things conference. Dan, 3ni's director, held an event on the importance of building social capital at a neighbourhood level with Anna Francis from the Portland Inn Project and Robin Fry from the North East Combined Authority.
Learn more about why Social Capital matters |
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| | We're on LinkedIn
3ni have just joined LinkedIn, where we’ll be posting our research, commentary and highlight important news and good practice out there from across the network and beyond.
Connect with us to continue the conversation. |
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| | In March 2025, 3ni and Local Trust partnered with St George's House, Windsor, to hold a consultation on social capital. Learn about the state of social capital in England and what needs to be done to maintain and create more social capital at national, regional and sub-regional levels. Read the report |
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| | The 3ni team is growing!
We’re pleased to welcome George Leroy, Senior Practice and Delivery Manager, and Célia Franquet, Coordinator to the 3ni team. |
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This is where we highlight the work of a 3ni member, from local government, the public sector or a local community we are working in. |
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Anna Francis and The Portland Inn Project
This month, we talk about the work of Anna Francis and the Portland Inn Project, Stoke-on-Trent. Anna is an artist and Professor of Art and Society at the University of Staffordshire, whose work for the last 20 years has centred around regeneration in communities.
In 2015, Anna met with Rebecca Davies and began to work collaboratively with other local residents to set up the Portland Inn Project, with a view to re-open the derelict pub building in the neighbourhood and take it into community ownership. This led them to set up a Community Interest Company and develop a range of activities in the neighbourhood, including a gardening club, arts and sports activities.
They also worked to bring local residents together with key stakeholders, holding monthly meetings where an action plan was developed to address the issues raised by the community. The neighbourhood slowly started to change, with local improvements including a reduction in fly-tipping and anti-social behaviour and a greater sense of community.
10 years on, the new social enterprise hub and creative community space is set to open in October and the team has great ideas for the future, as set out in their 100 Year Plan.
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Illustration by Rebecca Davies |
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Local Government Association conference
1st July - 3rd July, Liverpool
3ni has an exhibition stand at the flagship local government conference, where we are talking about our latest research and demonstrating discovery, our community needs diagnostic tool. We are also be holding a fringe event that will look at how to build social capital in neighbourhoods on Tuesday at Lunya Liverpool from 4.30pm to 6pm. Come along to say hello at stand A50 and join us tonight!
3ni Members' event: Think Neighbourhoods: Unleashing the power of our neighbourhoods
15th July, London
Join us in person for an afternoon with the Independent Commission on Neighbourhoods (ICON) to hear more about the findings of their interim report and to discuss and feed back on their recommendations to government in their Green Paper.
There are only a few spaces left so make sure not to miss out and sign up today! |
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Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions at info@3ni.co.uk.
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