Community Capacity Building - A St George's House consultation
When communities are given the tools, time and resources to build confidence and capacity locally, they don’t just survive – they thrive. This is one of the clearest lessons from decades of neighbourhood research, and from the direct experience of communities across England that have built capacity to act on their own terms. But what this looks like in practice, especially how residents, groups and local organisations can be best supported to secure the networks, resources and practical routes to transform local priorities into sustained action, is still to be ironed out.
That’s why, in February 2026, practitioners and leaders from local and central government, community organisations, funders, academics and civil society, came together to explore what it might take to put community capacity at the centre of the neighbourhood improvement agenda. Hosted by 3ni and ICON, the consultation began from the recognition that change is more lasting when local people play a genuine leadership role in designing and delivering on plans to improve and transform their neighbourhoods. Across two days in the historic St Georges House, Windsor Castle, participants explored four linked questions: what community capacity building means, how it relates to neighbourhood regeneration, what best or next practice looks like, and what this agenda demands of communities, the state and funders.
This report is a summary of the discussion that took place during the consultation, aiming to reflect the consensus that emerged from sessions rather than the detailed policy positions of all of the organisations that participated. It closes with practical steps for policymakers, practitioners and funders who want to start thinking seriously about community capacity and their contribution towards its development.
