Research, reports and publications

What makes local infrastructure effective? This publication explores the essential role local infrastructure organisations play in supporting charities, community groups and volunteers, and sets out the key characteristics of high-quality local infrastructure.

An exploration of the unique role local infrastructure organisations play in bringing people together, building relationships and creating the conditions for collaboration. The report highlights how local infrastructure strengthens communities and supports social cohesion.

As public services increasingly focus on neighbourhood working, this publication examines why neighbourhoods are such important places for building relationships, understanding community needs and improving outcomes. It explores the role of the VCSE sector and local infrastructure in making neighbourhood approaches work.

Many of the groups that hold communities together are small, informal and often invisible to policymakers and funders. This think piece introduces the concept of the voluntary sector microbiome, highlighting the vital contribution of grassroots community action and why it matters for thriving communities.