Ongoing research

A sorts of new models for participatory democracy have developed since the mutual aid movement transformed traditional community groups. Along with citizen assemblies, doughnut economics and lots of reports confirming the importance of place-making and its impact on wellbeing, here are a few interesting links:

• A useful new platform for community groups, to encourage participatory democracy, consultation and even enable crowdfunding > https://www.vocaleyes.org/

• We’re not alone in feeling like a village within our city: here’s the manifesto of a group building on the mutual aid community model we’ve been a part of, helping to build micro-local communications for communities > https://villageinthecity.net/manifesto/

• Sheffield’s amazing GREY TO GREEN project > showing how funding could be brought together to transform road space into green space > http://www.greytogreen.org.uk/phase_1.html

• There’s great enthusiasm to find a space in Pinhoe for a circle of blossom trees inspired by the National Trust’s project > https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/features/helping-communities-blossom?