Lewis, Julie

This handbook is a guide for ordinary people to understand what is going on in their local economy so that they can be involved in decision-making. The handbook is responding to a need of residents involved in local decision-making to feel comfortable about decisions relating to the local economy. Based on work with communities in the UK, the handbook addresses local involvement in community economic decisions and looks at how local businesses can link to outside investment or strong skill bases that can benefit the wider community.

Local faith communities often feel themselves to be fragile and weak, yet the truth is that they are often the strongest local community grouping and the most comprehensive - they are well placed to be the catalyst for community development. This report is the result of a partnership between the New Economics Foundation, the Church Urban Fund and the DTLR's (Department of Transport, Local government and the Regions, UK) Special Grants Programme.