Communities and localities have often responded quickly, effectively and innovatively to the challenges of COVID-19.

A/UK  helped Local Trust to map how communities were responding to the challenges of the coronavirus. Conducted over March and April 2020, the conditions weren’t perfect - like everyone else, the study used online tools (like Zoom, Miro, and Google Docs) to capture conversations, content and contributions. But over three sessions, enough difficulties and possibilities, optimism and anxieties were captured to be able to make a substantive report.

Key points of the report:

• Community responses to COVID-19 have revitalised the language of local autonomy and self-reliance
• There is optimism coupled with apprehension at the scale of change already happening and the prospect of shaping a different future
• A renewed belief that communities have the ability to make change happen and an opportunity for a narrative shift around community power
• Greater willingness to become actively involved with local groups in Plymouth that have a say over neighbourhood changes

The report A New Story of Us: what role can communities play in shaping the post-COVID future? can be read online here, or downloaded as PDF here).