On the 19 November 2019, we held our third annual People’s Powerhouse Convention in Sunderland. It was a fantastic day filled with celebration, collaboration and learning.

Last week we held our 3^rd annual People’s Powerhouse Convention, with over 250 people, 23 different workshop sessions, a People’s Powerhouse communal choir, art exhibitions, poems and a metro mayor there is lots to reflect on and think about as we head into 2020.

A community cinema in the North East area of Redcar and Cleveland is bringing local people together to enjoy films whilst teaching them about the services offered by their neighbourhood housing association, as well as other local organisations.

Doing Social are a not-for-profit social enterprise based in Leeds and London and we are collaborating with Leeds Beckett University on a new undergraduate degree – BA Innovation and Skills for Social Change.

It takes collaboration and partnerships across communities to develop better skills for better and healthier lives. Towns and communities can be viewed like a giant jigsaw puzzle, with shops, businesses and different organisations neatly fixed together in an interesting supply chain. But what happens when one piece becomes dislodged?