CoWBELLS: Community Wealth Building in Action
CoWBELLS is bringing together community voices, anchor institutions, academics and government to grow a fairer, more locally rooted economy for our region.
Why CoWBELLS matters
A bold regional space for testing Community Wealth Building in real places, with real people, and turning learning into lasting change.
For our whole region
Connecting places, communities and anchor institutions so Community Wealth Building is felt in everyday life, not just in policy papers.
Practical pilots
Designing and testing real projects – from spending and assets to fair work – that show what a wellbeing economy can look like here.
Evidence with a heartbeat
Blending data, stories and lived experience to influence decisions and investments for years to come.
What is CoWBELLS?
CoWBELLS (Community Wealth Building for Local Lives & Systems) is a regional working group piloting practical ways to keep wealth, power and opportunity close to the communities who create it.
Our purpose
CoWBELLS is here to test and champion Community Wealth Building approaches that work on the ground – from how money is spent locally, to how assets are owned, to how people participate in decisions that affect their lives.
- Pilot real Community Wealth Building projects in our region.
- Centre the experience and leadership of local communities.
- Generate evidence and stories that can shape policy.
Who is involved?
CoWBELLS is a partnership of community organisations, anchor institutions, practitioners and researchers who share a commitment to a fairer, more resilient regional economy.
Together, we are building practical models that can be scaled and sustained – rooted in our place, and informed by lived experience.
CoWBELLS in pictures
Real people, real places and real conversations that are shaping Community Wealth Building in our region.
Community Wealth Building in our region
Community Wealth Building is about redesigning the economy from the ground up so it works for people, places and the planet – not the other way round.
Why it matters here
Our region faces a mix of deep-rooted challenges and powerful strengths: brilliant community organisations, rich natural assets and strong local pride – alongside poverty, inequality and fragile local economies.
Community Wealth Building helps us turn everyday spending, land, buildings and jobs into long-term community benefit.
From community voices to policy change
CoWBELLS is a bridge between lived experience, academic insight and government decision‑making.
Community voices
We listen to, amplify and respect the knowledge of people who live and work here – tenants, workers, volunteers, community leaders and young people.
CoWBELLS working group
The working group turns ideas into pilot projects, tests what works, and captures learning that can be shared across the region and beyond.
Academic inquiry & government
CoWBELLS works alongside an academic inquiry group that studies our pilots, drawing out insights that can inform local and national government policy.
In this way, practical change in communities is directly connected to the policies and programmes that shape our shared future.
Our pilot themes
CoWBELLS will focus on a small number of high‑impact Community Wealth Building opportunities, developed with partners and communities.
Local procurement & spending
Exploring how anchor institutions can spend more of their budgets locally – supporting community enterprises, co‑operatives and social businesses.
Community‑owned assets
Supporting communities to take a greater stake in land, buildings and infrastructure – keeping value rooted in place for the long term.
Fair work & inclusive skills
Connecting Community Wealth Building to fair work, training and progression – especially for people who are furthest from the labour market.
People and partners behind CoWBELLS
CoWBELLS is powered by relationships – between community groups, anchor institutions, academics, local government and national partners.
Community‑led at its core
CoWBELLS is rooted in community organisations who are already delivering change – from social enterprises and charities to grassroots groups.
Stay informed about CoWBELLS
As CoWBELLS develops, we will share pilot updates, learning and opportunities to get involved.
If you are interested in following the work of CoWBELLS, partnering on pilots or inviting us to share learning, we would love to hear from you.
Get in touch about CoWBELLS
