In 2019, Shared Assets was funded by Power to Change to find out more about people in England using land for social and environmental benefits (who we call ‘common good land users’), particularly focusing on the activities of such groups, their networks, the barriers they are facing, and the support they require to succeed. 

We did a survey which over 100 people and organisations filled in, completed in-depth interviews, and ran three workshops across the country to build a detailed picture of ‘common good land users’ - the first time such a piece of research had been carried out.    

From this research, we produced a report giving a snapshot of the sector in 2019, and four ‘quick guides’ aimed at various audiences interested in learning more about common good land use – potential common good land users, current common good land users, landowners, and funders and policy makers.

We hope in future to redo a similar ‘state of the sector’ every few years to see what has changed as the groundswell of interest in working with the land for the common good grows.