We’re Right Here

What would it look like if communities had the power and the legal right to shape the places they live in? If local people could manage public services, take ownership of buildings and land, and decide how money is spent in their community? 

That’s the vision behind the We’re Right Here campaign – a growing movement of community leaders calling for community power to be entrenched in UK law. It’s about making the places we live fairer, greener and better suited to local needs, by shifting decision-making from Central Government to where people actually live. 

“People want power at grassroots,” said Claude Hendrickson, a community leader in Leeds and one of the eight campaigners behind We’re Right Here, when he joined us on the Carbon Copy Podcast. “Rather than giving [assets] to big developers who just don’t care for the community, how about empowering the local community to take control… and build services that they require?” 

The right to shape the future locally

The campaign calls for three new legal rights for communities: 

1. The Community Right to Buy: giving communities the legal first refusal on buildings or land that matter to them. This right has already been committed to as part of the English Devolution Bill, a big campaign win for We’re Right Here!

2. The Community Right to Shape Public Services: ensuring services are designed with the people who use them. 

3. The Community Right to Control Investment: decisions about money should reflect local priorities. 

At the core of this is the idea of a Community Covenant – a power-sharing agreement between councils and neighbourhoods. As Charlotte Hollins, another campaign leader, explained on the Carbon Copy Podcast: 

“As communities we’re right here, we’re already doing it, we’re already making amazing things happen at the ground roots. What we need is to be empowered more in that space… Legislation is needed so that it enforces councils to listen to communities to share that power and to work with communities.”  

Why this matters for climate and nature

You’re probably thinking ‘this doesn’t sound like a climate campaign?’ And on the face of it, it isn’t. But at Carbon Copy, we’ve seen again and again how what’s good for communities is also good for climate. 

When local people have the power to shape their surroundings, they often prioritise clean air, green spaces, better transport and warmer homes, the very same things that reduce emissions and restore nature. So when decisions are made close to home, projects can happen faster, and trust grows. 

“We hear all the time that councils are super stretched,” said our podcast host Isabelle Sparrow. “This is perfect because it’s taking that responsibility… and allowing other people to act when the council literally can’t.” 

Linking local to national change

The We’re Right Here campaign also connects with our broader action Lobby for Change. In the same podcast episode, we heard how Climate Emergency UK is using council Climate Action Scorecards as a lobbying tool to encourage councils to improve on their climate commitments and also for residents to see where their local council has scored well. 

We also heard from the Zero Hour campaign, which is lobbying MPs to pass the Climate and Nature Bill (CAN Bill) which addresses some of the root causes of the climate and nature crisis. 

Whether it’s campaigning for a Community Power Act, or getting your council to take stronger climate action, the message is clear: change starts locally. 

What you can do

If you believe communities deserve more power and that real climate and nature solutions begin at home then support this movement for change! 

• Learn more about the We’re Right Here campaign. 

• Take action with support from the We’re Right Here Influencing Toolkit. 

• Get inspired by other initiatives that are helping to build power locally.  

Change doesn’t have to start in Westminster. It can start with people who know their neighbourhoods, who care about the future, and who are already doing the work. Whether it’s fighting for a fairer share of power, taking ownership of building, local services or green spaces, or simply adding your voice to a growing call for change, there’s a role for everyone. Acting locally can mean doing something bigger and building the momentum to transform the way we live. 

For more information about what you can do to lobby for change locally, visit our 25 Big Local Actions in 2025 page.