Locality has committed to mobilising a million people over the next three years, and supporting community groups in building enterprising business models, as part of five key pledges it announced at its launch at the House of Lords yesterday.

Locality’s chief executive Steve Wyler, says the five pledges will “build on the inspirational work of Locality’s members and allow the passion and ambition of communities everywhere to flourish”.

The pledges include a promise to “tell it as it is" about cuts to the charity sector, forge better alliances, and mobilise a million people through local campaigns, community organising, and timebanking.

Wyler also said Locality will help build community capability through enterprising business models:

“I want to encourage asset ownership,” said Wyler, “and have community groups which are running businesses with surpluses.”

Locality was formed last year from the merger of bassac and the Development Trusts Association. It is running the government’s £15m community organiser scheme and is a government strategic partner

It is also in the early stages of setting up an Institute for Community Organisers.  

Its five key pledges are –

• To speak truth to power (“At a time when cuts are falling disproportionately on the poorest communities, we will tell it as it is”)
• To take on the blockers and the bureaucrats (“All too often communities achieve things despite those who control resources and decisions - we aim to change that for good”)
• To forge a big alliance (“No single organisation can by itself achieve the community transformation we are aiming for - we will build mutuality within our movement, and alliances with others in the third sector, private sector, and government”)
• To build community capability (“We are determined to build resilient organisations that are here to stay, founded on asset ownership, enterprising business models, and high-impact social action”)
• To mobilise a million (“Through local campaigns, community organising, and timebanking, we will help our members mobilise a million people over the next three years”)