To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to page 14 of the Government’s Civil Society Strategy, what progress his Department has made towards improving guidance to help communities take ownership of local assets.

My Department continues to engage with partners on how best to ensure community groups have access to the necessary advice and support to take assets into community ownership. We have funded the development of the online platform “My Community” to provide detailed advice and guidance to voluntary and community groups interested in taking assets into community ownership and encourage the take up of Community Rights. The Department has also supported the work of the online platform “Keep It In The Community” to ensure that more community groups are able to identify local assets of community value.

In addition, organisations such as Sport England, The National Lottery Heritage Fund and Power to Change provide comprehensive and specialist bespoke advice, ensuring community groups have access to the knowledge and networks which encourage the community ownership of assets.