This weekend will see community owned businesses in England open their doors to the public, as part of a campaign to get more people involved in local decision making.

Community Business Weekend, which is taking part for the fourth year, has already enabled tens of thousands of people to come and find out how they can support their local community business. Many of these visitors are now volunteers, regular customers and even shareholders of those organisations.

Community businesses taking part are marking the occasion in a variety of ways, including taking part in community run radio shows, outdoors festivals, community pub quizzes, street parties and drop-in sessions.

The campaign runs from Thursday 16 May until Sunday 19 May 2019. Anyone interested in finding out what’s taking place near them can search for an event on the Community Business Weekend map: https://communitybusinessweekend.org/find-an-event/

The events are being supported by a social media campaign aimed at making the case for  why community business matter to the local area (#CommunityBusinessMatters). The organisers have also produced a series of videos to bring alive the often heartfelt stories behind the thousands of community businesses in England.

The stories include Victorian baths taken over by the community after falling into disrepair, a football club formed out of the disillusionment by supporters about the rising costs associated with the modern game, and a user-led charity and social enterprise working to make life better for disabled, elderly and vulnerable people.

The campaign is being organised by Power to Change, an independent trust that helps enable community businesses to trade for community benefit and make life better for local people.

Photo credit: Power to Change