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Matt Leach

@mattleach

CEO at Building Centre/Built Environment Trust. Social capital, devolution, hyperlocal change, public service reform. Thinks about the future a bit. Member of the Independent Commission on Neighbourhoods.

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24.10.2023
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Latest posts by Matt Leach @mattleach

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Where People Meet: Neighbourhoods need places to belong - Rayne Foundation What the Foundation has learned about the challenges and opportunities facing adult social care, and our future plans for proactive funding into the sector.

Delighted by @mattleach.bsky.social’s response to Where People Meet - our new report on the future of community centres.

"The report offers a vision for the future that’s refreshingly grounded. Not utopian. Not flashy. But deeply real."

www.raynefoundation.org.uk/where-people...

13.05.2025 18:19 👍 1 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0
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@mattleach.bsky.social reflects on the findings of Community, not catastrophe, a report that calls for networks of trust, mutual aid, volunteering, community support, and civil society to urgently be recognised as ‘critical national infrastructure’ in UK crisis preparedness planning 👇

10.04.2025 12:56 👍 3 🔁 2 💬 1 📌 0
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Building resilience: The power of community first response Matt Leach outlines how local social capital can be vital during disasters, and how Big Local areas have demonstrated community resilience.

In our latest blog, Local Trust’s CEO, @mattleach.bsky.social , outlines how, in an era of crisis and uncertainty, #BigLocal areas have been demonstrating community resilience and effective community first response. Read the blog: buff.ly/wxTSDoH [🧵2/3]

03.04.2025 09:01 👍 1 🔁 1 💬 1 📌 0

Huge thanks to @localtrust.org.uk, VCS Emergencies Partnership, Robyn Knox, @mattleach.bsky.social, Margaret Bolton, Groundwork, National Emergencies Trust, and many others. 3/3

02.04.2025 10:29 👍 2 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0

"The statue of Wallace Sargent, the orchard... [are] symbols of what communities can do when they really get down to achieving brilliant stuff together."
📍 In the #CommunityPowerPodcast's final episode, our CEO @mattleach.bsky.social reflects on Winterton #BigLocal’s journey: buff.ly/Y9fAQFy [1/3]

01.04.2025 14:24 👍 1 🔁 1 💬 1 📌 0
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The community power podcast: Series three Exploring what happens when you give local people the money, power and the resources to make a difference in their neighbourhoods.

And if you haven’t already, listen to the final episode of series three with our CEO @mattleach.bsky.social as he shares his insights into the evolution of these Big Local areas and what sets their journeys apart: buff.ly/Y9fAQFy [2/2]

21.03.2025 10:00 👍 1 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0
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📢Join us for a public panel event this week with
@AnthropyUK

⏰28th March, 11:00-12:00
@ Emma Fletcher, @mattleach.bsky.social, @Ben beadle, @Jayne kirkham, @Charlie Luxton, @ Joe Harrison
🏠RSVP Here:👇
anthropy.uk

19.03.2025 15:39 👍 2 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0
Figure 4 – Ranking of the biggest challenges in their neighbourhood by hyper-local need area

Shows potholes are the priority issue in both high & low need neighbourhoods

Figure 4 – Ranking of the biggest challenges in their neighbourhood by hyper-local need area Shows potholes are the priority issue in both high & low need neighbourhoods

Not a huge amount on transport & street design in @iconeighbours.bsky.social’s interim report but struck by this finding on potholes as a key priority for people in both high & low need neighbourhoods.

Report: www.neighbourhoodscommission.org.uk/report/inter...

05.03.2025 09:51 👍 3 🔁 1 💬 3 📌 0
panel of speakers at ICON launch event, from left Alex Norris MP, Baroness Armstrong, Jon Rouse, Angie Wright

panel of speakers at ICON launch event, from left Alex Norris MP, Baroness Armstrong, Jon Rouse, Angie Wright

Great to be at the launch of the Independent Commission on Neighbourhoods - putting place and social capital at the centre of the government’s mission agenda www.neighbourhoodscommission.org.uk/report/inter...

05.03.2025 10:23 👍 2 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0
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Social Capital 2025: Reinforcing the bedrock of the nation’s health Demos is Britain’s leading cross-party think-tank. We produce original research, publish innovative thinkers and host thought-provoking events.

We need to strengthen social capital and networks to support people to live healthier lives - the latest in our #socialcapital series with @demos-uk.bsky.social highlights it’s critical importance to an prevention-focused policy agenda demos.co.uk/research/soc...

13.02.2025 14:36 👍 2 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
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Social Capital 2025: What is Social Capital? Demos is Britain’s leading cross-party think-tank. We produce original research, publish innovative thinkers and host thought-provoking events.

We're pleased to also publish a separate briefing paper which explains the definition of social capital we refer to throughout this series, 'What is Social Capital'. ⬇️

demos.co.uk/research/soc...

30.01.2025 09:36 👍 3 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0

✨ New research! ✨

"The evidence points in one direction: that strengthening positive forms of #socialcapital and networks will help bolster communities, families and result in safer homes for children."

30.01.2025 09:36 👍 3 🔁 3 💬 1 📌 0
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Number of ‘under the radar’ voluntary and community groups in England revealed New research finds there are almost half a million voluntary sector organisations in the country, including up to 335,000 unregistered groups

Good report out from NAVCA highlighting the importance of grassroots and unincorporated groups to community life. Far too easily forgotten, but arguably the most important part of what makes up “civil society” www.thirdsector.co.uk/number-under...

31.01.2025 11:05 👍 2 🔁 2 💬 0 📌 0
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Join the national network for neighbourhood improvement

You can find out more about 3Ni, the new @localtrust.bsky.social spin-out, and its mission to support local government and other public agencies put social capital and neighbourhood working at the heart of their work by contacting them via the info form at localtrust.org.uk/policy/natio...

30.01.2025 14:42 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
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Independent Commission on Neighbourhoods Launched in September 2024, the Independent Commission on Neighbourhoods will review the current state of neighbourhoods across England.

An appreciation of the importance of social capital is also at the heart of the work of the Independent Commission on Neighbourhoods who are likely to report this spring on the need for policies to deliver change at a neighbourhood level. www.neighbourhoodscommission.org.uk

30.01.2025 14:42 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0
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A neighbourhood building social capital Local Trust’s CEO Matt Leach reflects on the multifaceted role of building social capital in improving lives in our most deprived neighbourhoods.

I recently blogged about the extent to which you can see the impact of social capital in action on the ground in places like Newington in Kent localtrust.org.uk/news-and-sto... and how that can inspire wider changes in how we think about policy and practice at a neighbourhood level

30.01.2025 14:42 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0
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Social Capital 2025: The hidden wealth of nations Demos is Britain’s leading cross-party think-tank. We produce original research, publish innovative thinkers and host thought-provoking events.

The importance of social capital to society was highlighted last month in David Halpern and Andy Haldane's report on the importance of bringing a focus on social capital back to the heart of policy demos.co.uk/research/soc...

30.01.2025 14:42 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0
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The Preventative State: Rebuilding our local, social and civic foundations Demos is Britain’s leading cross-party think-tank. We produce original research, publish innovative thinkers and host thought-provoking events.

The report is timely, given the spiralling pressures on public service budgets. And builds on @localtrust.bsky.social 's work with Demos over the last couple of years - initially through their compelling report on the need to build a #preventativestate. demos.co.uk/research/the...

30.01.2025 14:42 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0
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Social Capital 2025: A protective shield for children, families and communities Demos is Britain’s leading cross-party think-tank. We produce original research, publish innovative thinkers and host thought-provoking events.

Social capital can act as a protective shield for children, families and communities. We need to focus on strengthening social capital and networks to support families to stay safely together. demos.co.uk/research/soc...

30.01.2025 14:42 👍 1 🔁 1 💬 1 📌 0
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Join the national network for neighbourhood improvement


You can find out more about 3Ni, and its new mission to support local government and other public agencies put social capital and neighbourhood working at the heart of their work here localtrust.org.uk/policy/natio...

13.01.2025 11:38 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
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A neighbourhood building social capital Local Trust’s CEO Matt Leach reflects on the multifaceted role of building social capital in improving lives in our most deprived neighbourhoods.

And I've blogged here about the extent to which you can see the impact of social capital in action on the ground in places like Newington in Kent localtrust.org.uk/news-and-sto...

13.01.2025 11:38 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0
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The social bonds that tie us are the UK’s hidden wealth The government is struggling to deliver on its number-one priority: to grow the economy. Amid market turmoil, the chancellor, Rachel Reeves, has reportedly told colleagues to draft alternative plans

David Halpern previews his report here @thetimes.com www.thetimes.com/article/5575..., highlighting the extent to which boosting social capital could have huge dividends for national productivity, GDP and growth

13.01.2025 11:38 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0
Graph showing trust vs GDP by nation

Graph showing trust vs GDP by nation

At a time when Britain faces significant economic and fiscal pressures, the reports will focus on the vital role of social capital in enabling economic growth, and the ways in which it can reduce pressure on public services and effectively address our most pressing socio-economic challenges.

13.01.2025 11:38 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0
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Social Capital 2025: The hidden wealth of nations Demos is Britain’s leading cross-party think-tank. We produce original research, publish innovative thinkers and host thought-provoking events.

Hugely excited that @localtrust.bsky.social and its new spin-out 3Ni is collaborating with demos.co.uk on a series of important new reports on #socialcapital. The first, by Andy Haldane and David Halpern, makes the case for putting social capital at the heart of policy demos.co.uk/research/soc...

13.01.2025 11:38 👍 2 🔁 1 💬 1 📌 0

Great to see some well deserved #BigLocal #NewYearHon award winners tonight. Massive congratulations to Sonia Clyne from Par Bay BL, James Masters from Grange BL, Fiona Thompson from Keighley Valley BL and Tracy Lowe from Grace Mary to Lion Farm BL. All fantastic community leaders and change-makers!

31.12.2024 00:02 👍 2 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 1
Matt Leach speaking at NASP report launch

Matt Leach speaking at NASP report launch

Good to speak at new report launch today from National Academy for Social Prescribing making case for investing in community through a new fund. Helping prevent cost falling on the NHS whilst building thriving communities and sustaining better lives. socialprescribingacademy.org.uk/resources/ne...

11.12.2024 17:40 👍 1 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0
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Brilliant to hear Sam Jones from @tnlcomfund.bsky.social announce to the @commwealthfund.bsky.social end of year campaign reception that the new Community Wealth Fund will benefit from additional lottery funds, doubling the size of the programme when it launches (hopefully early next year)

10.12.2024 15:43 👍 4 🔁 2 💬 0 📌 1
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Introducing C4: A new research centre on community connectedness We’re exploring how our research and learning from over a decade of studying Big Local can be used in the future. Our head of research and learning, Jayne Humm, explores the role a new research centre...

Fantastic to see new impetus for #community focused research from @ukri.org, and delighted that @localtrust.bsky.social will be a founding partner of the new Centre for Collaboration in Community Connectedness localtrust.org.uk/news-and-sto...

10.12.2024 15:34 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

A month to go in our Community Futures essay competition for early career researchers and policy professionals, PhD and graduate students and independent community practitioners. localtrust.org.uk/enter-local-...

09.12.2024 10:36 👍 1 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0
extract from Andy Haldane article on social capital for the Financial Times

extract from Andy Haldane article on social capital for the Financial Times

Great stuff from Andy Haldane in the @financialtimes.com. Whether at a neighbourhood level or the nation state, we need to rediscover the importance of #socialcapital www.ft.com/content/97c1...

09.12.2024 10:00 👍 5 🔁 4 💬 0 📌 0