The Charter

Campaigning for a Charter of Community Rights

Across England, the gap between people and national government has grown wide. Decisions are pushed down from above, leaving many communities feeling powerless and pushed aside. This lack of voice creates frustration and weakens democracy.

The Charter for Communities sets out a different path. It recognises that local people already drive solutions — from housing and healthcare to flood prevention and renewable energy. To release this potential, communities need clear rights and investment in skills, not just infrastructure projects.

What’s Going Wrong

• Local voices are shut out as decisions are centralised.
• National policy treats people as problems, not partners.
• Planning and other processes fail to reflect the reality of diverse local needs.

A Missed Chance…and an opportunity

The government’s 2025 Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill creates larger authorities but offers no real ’empowerment’ to communities. In fact, there isn’t anything that will address that local government is set to become bigger and more distant to people’s lives. But it isn’t too late to change this!

Why It Matters

Despite these barriers, communities show their strength daily — running food projects, supporting neighbours, and tackling the cost of living. These efforts happen despite policy, not because of it. With proper rights and recognition, they could form the backbone of a fairer, more hopeful future.

The Charter sets out seven rights designed to give people both protection and the ability to shape decisions where they live.

We the undersigned…

We recognise the real challenges which are impacting on community life from the climate and health crises to austerity and extremism.  

We also recognise the vital part that people can play in the positive development of their own communities, driving solutions which bring practical hope of better lives.

We acknowledge and the importance of people being free to enjoy and steward the local environment for our collective benefit.

We further recognise the importance of the voice or all parts of our diverse communities in shaping the decisions which affect us most.

We support the United Nations Declaration of human rights, but the time has now come to go further to create a new charter of community rights to improve the lives of people and places.

We declare our support for this charter of seven community rights:

A right to a clean and healthy environment.

A right to a healthy home.

A right to play.

A right to grow food on public sector land. 

A right to roam and swim.

A right to participate in local decisions which shape communities. 

A right to challenge local decisions which affect our lives.