Localism

The Localism Act was passed in November 2011 introducing measures to shift power from central government to local authorities. This will have an impact on voluntary organisations.

If well implemented these measures could give local authorities more flexibility to respond to the needs of their communities. Local services could be transformed and institutions could become more inclusive.

The localism agenda is most likely to affect voluntary organisations because it:

• makes local compacts more important for relationships between local authorities and voluntary organisations
• introduces new rights which give community groups a chance to bid for 'community assets' if they are up for sale or threatened with closure or demolition
• introduces the 'Right to Challenge' which allows communities and groups – including voluntary organisations – to submit an 'expression of interest' if they wish to provide, or assist in providing, a service

Voluntary organisations are well placed to help local authorities with the localism agenda by:

• bringing people with shared interests, beliefs and experiences together
• supporting and building communities'
• giving a 'voice' to the disadvantaged and under-represented

But to make localism a success, good partnership working between the public, private and voluntary and community sectors will be vital.

Read the Localism Act on the Government's legislation website.

Find out more

• What the research tells us
• What we believe
• Reading list

Related themes

• Big Society
• Participation
• Public services
• Workling with government