From the Ground Up: Strength from Community, Courage for Change North East England

Brought to you by Local Trust and VONNE, co-created with people and communities from across the North East.

Communities across the North East have long been shaped by solidarity, collective action, and a deep sense of place. Yet decades of deindustrialisation, policy shifts, and fragmented investment have weakened many of the social foundations that once sustained local democracy and shared prosperity.

From the Ground Up is a one-day knowledge exchange summit bringing together community organisations, funders, local authorities, social investors, and researchers to explore how power, resources, and decision-making can be genuinely devolved to residents — and how we sustain that shift for the long term

Hosted in Durham’s historic Redhills — the former Miners’ Parliament — the day blends heritage, lived experience, research, and practical action. Expect a mix of inspiring performances, grounded case studies, and hands-on workshops designed to move beyond “quick wins” towards patient, people-led investment and shared stewardship of community assets

What the day will explore

• Devolving power in practice: what genuinely resident-led decision-making looks like, and what it takes to sustain it
• Investing in capacity, confidence, and leadership: building the skills and roles communities need to thrive
• Measuring what matters: redefining success beyond short-term outputs to capture trust, agency, and belonging
• Sustainable community ownership: shared stewardship models for hubs, assets, and social infrastructure

Through panels, workshops, and collective reflection, participants will co-create practical frameworks, investment ideas, and policy insights that can be taken forward across the region.

Workshops

There will be workshops taking place throughout the day, and attendees are invited to rate their preference to join 2 of the following workshops. Wherever possible, you will be allocated your first 2 choices if spaces are available.

Measuring What Matters Workshop

Co-creating a Shared Stewardship Framework for Community Assets in the North East

Devolving Power

Investing in Capacity, Confidence and Leadership

This is not a traditional conference. It is a working space for learning, connection, and commitment - grounded in the North East’s past, and focused firmly on its future.