Policy at Power to Change. Talking about communities, social connection, high streets, politics and policy.https://bsky.app/profile/jesscraig.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/jesscraig.bsky.social/post/3mhqlu6acvc2pOver the weekend the government announced £301m(!) for High Streets Innovation Partnerships to help communities 'reimagine and revive struggling high streets and make them fit for the future': https://www.gov.uk/government/news/high-streets-revived-and-children-given-safe-places-to-play23 Mar 2026 17:35 +0000at://did:plc:y47vbdyv43bc4lucgpppj4qh/app.bsky.feed.post/3mhqlu6acvc2phttps://bsky.app/profile/jesscraig.bsky.social/post/3mgpuig62wc2dI've written something about nostalgia and the high street, and how heritage-led regeneration can bridge the gap between where places have been and where we're going. Bonus photo of me and colleagues in awe at those beams. https://www.powertochange.org.uk/evidence-and-ideas/news-and-events/old-buildings-and-new-realities/ [contains quote post or other embedded content]10 Mar 2026 17:11 +0000at://did:plc:y47vbdyv43bc4lucgpppj4qh/app.bsky.feed.post/3mgpuig62wc2dhttps://bsky.app/profile/jesscraig.bsky.social/post/3mgcol22c622dLovely day in Dewsbury yesterday with @powertochange.org.uk and our community-led high street innovator cohort visiting Dewsbury Arcade. This summer it reopens to the public for the first time in a decade, now council owned and community run . Look at those beams!05 Mar 2026 11:21 +0000at://did:plc:y47vbdyv43bc4lucgpppj4qh/app.bsky.feed.post/3mgcol22c622dhttps://bsky.app/profile/jesscraig.bsky.social/post/3menu52ajy22eThe Business and Trade committee published its report on the Small Business Strategy yesterday. V pleased to see it highlight the role of community business in high street regeneration and adopt @powertochange.org.uk recommendation for funding to support the introduction of Community Right to Buy12 Feb 2026 11:09 +0000at://did:plc:y47vbdyv43bc4lucgpppj4qh/app.bsky.feed.post/3menu52ajy22ehttps://bsky.app/profile/jesscraig.bsky.social/post/3melxyx4ixs2vHad a great day visiting the fantastic @nudgecommunity.bsky.social with civil servants and @powertochange.org.uk to discuss all things community ownership and high street regeneration. Come for a look around… (🧵)11 Feb 2026 17:13 +0000at://did:plc:y47vbdyv43bc4lucgpppj4qh/app.bsky.feed.post/3melxyx4ixs2vhttps://bsky.app/profile/jesscraig.bsky.social/post/3me4icruu4c2kAlso absolutely *right* that Epstein's victims were acknowledged when all the political intrigue over Mandelson/the threat to the PM's position seems to have slightly lost sight of them. I can't say it better than this: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/feb/03/jeffrey-epstein-powerful-men-women-girls [contains quote post or other embedded content]05 Feb 2026 13:22 +0000at://did:plc:y47vbdyv43bc4lucgpppj4qh/app.bsky.feed.post/3me4icruu4c2khttps://bsky.app/profile/jesscraig.bsky.social/post/3me4gxuugc22kVery likely the PM's speech today will be remembered more for his apology on Mandelson but good nonetheless to hear Pride in Place is being extended to 40 more places.05 Feb 2026 12:58 +0000at://did:plc:y47vbdyv43bc4lucgpppj4qh/app.bsky.feed.post/3me4gxuugc22khttps://bsky.app/profile/jesscraig.bsky.social/post/3mdkvueo3wc2dThere's lots of commentary going around on the state of the high street and what Labour can do to fix it. With the welcome news that the government plans to publish a high streets strategy later in the year, I've written a deeper dive on what that strategy should be about. 🧵https://bit.ly/4q8NH3E29 Jan 2026 13:37 +0000at://did:plc:y47vbdyv43bc4lucgpppj4qh/app.bsky.feed.post/3mdkvueo3wc2dhttps://bsky.app/profile/jesscraig.bsky.social/post/3m5vulggwls25The Cloudflare outage currently prevents me from sharing the wonderful new @powertochange.org.uk essay collection we're launching today. BUT if you'd like to get your hands on an old fashioned paper copy come along to our launch event tonight Info/sign up: https://powertochange.typeform.com/to/L2W7DYk9?typeform-source=statics.teams.cdn.office.net18 Nov 2025 13:42 +0000at://did:plc:y47vbdyv43bc4lucgpppj4qh/app.bsky.feed.post/3m5vulggwls25https://bsky.app/profile/jesscraig.bsky.social/post/3m5grkz752s26On Tuesday we launch 'From the ground up: Community business and Britain's next decade' - an essay collection to celebrate 10 yrs of @powertochange.org.uk and look ahead into the future of our communities. Delighted we'll be joined by this excellent panel of guests to share their 2035 vision 👇 [contains quote post or other embedded content]12 Nov 2025 13:38 +0000at://did:plc:y47vbdyv43bc4lucgpppj4qh/app.bsky.feed.post/3m5grkz752s26https://bsky.app/profile/jesscraig.bsky.social/post/3lzyhoiaqmc2i@powertochange.org.uk last event of Labour conference getting underway! Our community business reception is all about how communities create growth you can see, feel and that everyone benefits from.29 Sep 2025 16:48 +0000at://did:plc:y47vbdyv43bc4lucgpppj4qh/app.bsky.feed.post/3lzyhoiaqmc2ihttps://bsky.app/profile/jesscraig.bsky.social/post/3lzy5pinlkk2q@nickplumb.bsky.social (in jazzy headphones) kicks off a Reclaiming Our Regional Economies panel on resisting the rise of the far right with a striking stat that £2.9bn of assets sold by councils in last two years, leading to loss of vital shared spaces for connection.29 Sep 2025 13:50 +0000at://did:plc:y47vbdyv43bc4lucgpppj4qh/app.bsky.feed.post/3lzy5pinlkk2qhttps://bsky.app/profile/jesscraig.bsky.social/post/3lzvz4oxrjc2fNice to hear @georgiagould.bsky.social speaking on the need for culture change at the centre to enable communities to drive change in their local areas. She says govt can decide the outcomes it wants to see but needs to be flexible on the ‘how’ so places can deliver on the way that works for them.28 Sep 2025 17:23 +0000at://did:plc:y47vbdyv43bc4lucgpppj4qh/app.bsky.feed.post/3lzvz4oxrjc2fhttps://bsky.app/profile/jesscraig.bsky.social/post/3lzvo334hwc2nFelt right to start Labour conference yesterday with an event with Merseyside community leaders, @coopparty.party.coop and Birkenhead MP (and new MHCLG minister) @allymcgovern.bsky.social talking about how community business drives pride in place, connection and an economy that works for all.28 Sep 2025 14:05 +0000at://did:plc:y47vbdyv43bc4lucgpppj4qh/app.bsky.feed.post/3lzvo334hwc2nhttps://bsky.app/profile/jesscraig.bsky.social/post/3lzqa4dlbv22jI’ve been reading through govt’s new pride in place strategy. I like this sentiment a lot, but making sure the Pride in Place programme delivers outcomes that are genuinely community led will be its real test.26 Sep 2025 10:12 +0000at://did:plc:y47vbdyv43bc4lucgpppj4qh/app.bsky.feed.post/3lzqa4dlbv22jhttps://bsky.app/profile/jesscraig.bsky.social/post/3lzgdt4wkjs2xHappy conference season to those who participate. I'm heading to Labour conference this weekend and Conservative conference next weekend - please get in touch if you'd like to get coffee (I'll be needing lots of it)22 Sep 2025 11:51 +0000at://did:plc:y47vbdyv43bc4lucgpppj4qh/app.bsky.feed.post/3lzgdt4wkjs2x