Citizen Power

What is Citizen Power?

The Citizen Power programme looks at how citizen power can and should shape civic and democratic renewal. Based on theoretical argument, action research and policy analysis, the programme aims to develop ideas and practical policy solutions for cultivating civic activism and reinvigorating decision-making in the UK. The programme feeds into the RSA’s broader work on pro-social behaviour and community empowerment.

Citizen Power in Peterborough

Citizen Power: Peterborough is a partnership between a pioneering, active think-tank Improving attachment... building networks... stimulating innovation and participation(RSA), an ambitious local authority (Peterborough City Council) and an influential national arts body (Arts Council). The programme represents a new approach to exploring how the renewal of civic activism and community action might improve attachment and networks between people, build local participation and cultivate public service innovation.

Citizen Power: Peterborough includes the following projects:

  • Sustainable Citizenship: the role of behavioural economics in combating climate change
  • Recovery Capital: how the personal, social and community capital can help tackle problematic drug and alcohol use and generate the support necessary for recovery
  • The Peterborough Curriculum: improving educational opportunity for and the civic participation of young people by connecting what they learn in school with the place where they live
  • Civic Commons: creating spaces for political and social debate, discussion and local activism
  • Arts and Social Change: the role of the arts in creating a sense of belonging and imagination in a place
  • Civic Health: a new means of evaluating local performance based on civic health
Visit the Citizen Power community website

Citizen Power in Peterborough: one year on

This report documents the progress of the Citizen Power project by thinking radically about how citizens can be encouraged to become more self-reliant, more engaged with running public services, and more active in improving their local communities.

The project has six strands of work all addressing priorities identified by the local authority and its residents:

  • Work with five schools on the creation of the Peterborough Curriculum, which seeks to encourage higher levels of civic participation amongst pupils, parents and develops learning in partnership with local organisations.
  • A series of projects, which are building ‘green skills’ amongst citizens while bringing waste land back into use
  • The development of new civic commons where people are being trained and supported to tackle local problems like anti-social behaviour and social isolation.
  • A new approach to drugs services where people who misuse drug and alcohol are being asked to co-produce services and develop a network of ‘recovery champions’.
  • A programme of arts and social change which supports local artists, raises awareness of the arts, engages local citizens and provides a firm foundation for developing a sustainable arts offer for the city.
  • Developing a map of the civic leaders out there who have the enthusiasm, ability and networks needed to generate citizen powered change.


Citizen Power has been working closely with the Local Strategic Partnership which is now set to incorporate the project’s core principles into its Single Delivery Plan.

The programme - which continues to the summer 2012 - aims to un-tap the potential of Peterborough’s communities and citizens. Its aim is to ensure that public services increase social value and help communities become more resilient and self-reliant.

Download the Citizen Power in Peterborough: one year on (PDF)

Read Sam McLean's scoping report, Citizen Power in Peterborough

Learn about the background to Citizen Power