Communities with a robust, circular local economy, a sustainable local food infrastructure, locally produced energy and with the strength that diversity brings are more secure and better able to thrive when times are hard. That’s why Stroud’s pioneering approach to community ownership is so important – it literally benefits all of us!
Across the country many valuable buildings, services and resources face an uncertain future. Increasingly, though. communities are stepping forward to take ownership of the assets that matter most to them.
The Exchange building in Stroud’s Brick Row is the latest local example. Stroud Common Wealth Community Benefit Society (SCWCBS) is inviting local people to invest directly in this landmark community asset (see the link at the end of this article). The project offers more than a financial opportunity; it creates a shared stake in the future prosperity, creativity and resilience of the area. Community shares give residents a voice and ensure that important local spaces remain open for the people they serve.
I hope that the Exchange joins the growing list of community owned assets locally. The Rose and Crown in Nympsfield has just been bought by a local group, joining an already lengthy list that includes shops, pubs, community spaces, housing, a climbing wall and so on. Excitingly, there are a number of community energy projects underway locally, and several schools locally are pioneering environmental energy projects for themselves and their communities.
Together, these projects demonstrate a simple but powerful principle: when communities own assets, they create lasting value that extends far beyond financial returns, strengthening local democracy, resilience and belonging for generations to come.
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