We achieve more together than we do alone. Our politics has been dominated by the state and the market, but there is a growing movement that recognises the value and power of a “third pillar”: the community. I’ve spent most of my career being amazed by – and providing advice, funding and support to – people and organisations that are an embodiment of this third pillar, building practical solutions to our biggest challenges, both social and economic.
This agenda is urgent. The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, a shift in the geopolitical order, climate change and the cost-of-living crisis signal the need for a new approach to politics. The state and the market are necessary but no longer sufficient to reckon with such challenges. Too often, the power of our communities has been undervalued. But all along they have been there making life better for people and the places they live – taking charge of assets, running vital businesses and services, and bringing stability in the face of insecurity.
