What does it really take to sustain place-based systems change?

Renaisi-TSIP is leading on research into how to sustain place-based systems change. We are mapping out the range of approaches that organisations and collectives are using to sustain deep-rooted, systemic change in their places. This research will be used to build a resource for those delivering, funding and supporting place-based systems change - allowing them to understand the strengths and weaknesses of different models, how they are developed and the local conditions that support their success.

We would like to understand your experience delivering and resouring place-based systems change.

We define place-based systems change as an approach to social change which is relational, long-term, responsive, holistic and focused on shifting interrelated practice and outcomes across a geographic area identified as a “place” by those that live within it.

You might not use this language to define your work - but if the approach we have set out resonates with your ambitions for change in your place, we'd love to hear from you.

If you are a national organisation funding or supporting place-based systems change we'd also love to hear from you.

Every organisation and individual that participates in the research will have the right to be credited as a contributor to the inquiry in outputs, or have their insights, examples and quotes directly attributed to them or choose to remain anonymous.

If you have any questions about this please contact Helen Duffy at h.duffy@renaisi.com

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* 1. Would you like the information you provide in this survey to be anonymised?

Yes

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* 2. In January 2026, we’ll also be conducting interviews with delivery organisations to explore the nuances of sustaining place-based work in greater depth. Would you be interested to taking part in an interview for this research?

Yes

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* 3. If yes, please provide name and contact details (optional)

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* 4. Please provide your job/role title?

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* 5. Please indicate the type of organisation you work for or represent

Local charity, CIC or CBS

Local social enterprise or community buisiness

Local Authority

National charity

Local infrastrucutre organisation

National infrastructure organisation

Other (please specify)

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* 6. Please describe your experience in place-based work?

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* 7. Please specify the location(s) where the place-based work is taking place.

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* 8. How many years have you been involved in place-based work?

1-3 years

3-5 years

5-10 years

10+ years

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* 9. How has the place-based work you are involved with been resourced, or how is it currently resourced? (Please select all that apply)

Local authority funding

Central government funding (e.g. DWP, Home Office, DCMS, MHCLG)

Philanthropic funding

Social investment

Earned income (e.g. paid for services, rental income)

Community donations

Volunteer time

Other (please specify)

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* 10. If the work has received grant funding, what type of grant funding has it received? (Please select all that apply)

Restricted project/programme-based funding

Unrestricted project/programme-based funding

Core funding

Other (please specify)

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* 11. Which resourcing strategies do you think are most effective for sustaining place-based systems change? Please rank from most to least effective:

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* 12. Following on from Q9, could you share more about the resourcing models or strategies you’ve adopted to support this work, or how you’ve been able to diversify funding sources?

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* 13. Which non-financial strategies do you think are most effective for sustaining place-based systems change? Please rank from most to least effective.

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* 14. Following on from Q11, could you share more about the non-financial strategies that have been used and how to support this work?

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* 15. From your experiences, rank the barriers to sustainable income streams?

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* 16. Following up on Q12, are there any other barriers?

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* 17. If the place-based systems work that you have been involved in is/was reliant on support from an external organisation that was resourcing the work, is/was there a transition plan for when this resourcing ends?

Yes

Other (please specify)

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* 18. What type of support do you think is/was needed to secure resources to sustain the place-based work that you have been involved with? (select all that apply)

Support around accessing social finance

Support around asset ownership and management

Support around becoming a commissioned service

Bidwriting support

Developing relationships with philanthropic funders

Business planning

Support with setting up governance structures

Support with external communications and marketing

Support with developing income generating services

Other (please specify)

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* 19. In your view, what is the ideal duration for an external national organisation to commit to when launching a programme that resources place-based systems change?

Less than a year

1- 2 years

2-5 years

5-7 years

10+years

Other (please specify)

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* 20. When an external organisation is coming to the end of a period of resourcing place-based systems change, how long should they allow for a transition period to locally sustained delivery ?

No need for a transition period

Less than 6 months

6-12 months

1-2 years

More than 2 years

Other (please specify)

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* 21. Following on from questions 17 and 18, please share any other recommendations you have for how an external national organisation can effectively transition out of resourcing place-based systems change in order to support its sustainablity?

Thank you for taking the time to complete this survey