AJ Climate Champions: WeCanMake’s Melissa Mean
Melissa Mean from community land trust WeCanMake explains how a community-led approach in Bristol is tackling the housing crisis
Retrofitting for real impact: Community, social value & system change
As part of Futurebuild’s ‘Retrofit Mini Series’ host, Martin Hurn speaks with Sara Edmonds—architect, activist, and co-director of the National Retrofit Hub. She shares how the retrofit movement is shifting from policy and pilots to purpose, people and place. In this episode, Sarah explores the potential of community retrofit, the role of collective action, and the system innovations needed to scale solutions. A must-listen for anyone serious about the retrofit revolution.
Retrofit Balsall Heath, Birmingham
Retrofit Balsall Heath (RBH) is a Community Benefit Society and a bold, resident-led movement reshaping our neighbourhood from the ground up.
WeCanMake, Bristol
WeCanMake is a community land trust and neighbourhood test-space in Bristol, imagining and making new ways to create homes that build social infrastructure and community wealth.
Home Energy Action Lab
Home Energy Action Lab (HEAL) was established as a community benefit society in 2022 by residents of Hackney, North London.
Planet Cheltenham, Cheltenham
Planet Cheltenham is a community-led climate action network and Vision 21 initiative based in Cheltenham, bringing together residents, businesses, schools and local organisations to accelerate the town’s response to the climate and ecological emergency.
Portland Inn Project, Stoke on Trent
The Portland Inn Project CIC (PIPCIC) is a creative arts project for a community in Stoke On Trent with an aim to achieve community cohesion, economic, social and cultural development by involving the community in development of a pioneering community space, cultural hub and social enterprise.
Wessex Community Assets, Bridport
Established in 2003 alongside the Wessex Reinvestment Trust, Wessex Community Assets (WCA) is a community benefit society working to expand community ownership of housing, land and local economies.
East Marsh United, Grimsby
East Marsh United (EMU) founded East Marsh Community, the Community Benefit Society that operates as an ethical landlord. Working in partnership with EMU (now a CIO), it provides wraparound support to tenants and residents.
Centric Lab
n 2024, community liaison officers joined a programme run by Centric Lab. After a learning course, a grant was allocated to Support Staffordshire to facilitate workshops with 2 demographic groups on their experiences of the health impacts of extreme weather and how existing built environment assets can adapt to improve wellbeing and quality of life.