The Government announced the successful third sector organisations - charities, voluntary organisations and social enterprises - which are to share multi million funding for projects that help to give people a say in their communities.
Twenty-one projects will share a £9.25 million Empowerment Fund to deliver on the key themes of the Communities in Control White paper, which include being active in your community; access to information; standing for office and ownership and control.
The successful projects include the following:
The Government first announced plans for the Empowerment Fund in July 2008. The fund will provide three year grants of either £250,000 or £500,000. The security of a three year fund will help these organisations plan ahead with confidence and they will be expected to show how they make effective use of the financial assistance to expand their work.
The Empowerment Fund supports third sector organisations with national reach that can help deliver on the key themes set out in the White Paper, Communities in Control: real people, real power .
Applications for the fund were invited in October 2008. More than 150 applications came from a broad spectrum of the sector.
Temporarily converting empty shops into social enterprises, local art displays or learning centres will help innovative communities prevent high streets declining - according to Communities Secretary Hazel Blears.
Ms Blears was chairing a seminar in Stockport with Culture Secretary Andy Burnham on tackling 'recession in the high street', attended by councils, business leaders, landlords and town centre managers.
The Government also announced new measures and up to £3 million to help communities find creative ways to reduce the negative impact empty shops have on the high street.
The new provisions - including special planning application waivers, standard interim-use leases, and temporarily leasing shops to councils - will allow empty shops to get makeovers for use as cultural, community or learning services.
To illustrate - Chorley plan to set up a semi-permanent exhibition, having experienced popularity from turning empty shops into craft exhibitions, informal learning, and summer music workshops.
Similarly, an empty shop in Dewsbury was recently converted into a police and community centre, enabling local people to get fire or crime prevention advice and information on Sure Start, 'community safety rangers', and housing.
Many successful start-up businesses have also begun this way. For example Neal's Yard Remedies, the international cosmetics company was started by Romy Fraser in a disused warehouse in Covent Garden in 1981.
Councils can also use licensing powers positively to permit things like farmers markets that bring local produce to the high street. North Lincolnshire District Council started a monthly market that revitalised the high street at weekends.
These measures are being published in a practical guide - Looking after our Town Centres - which identifies the best ways and steps that communities can take to keep town centres thriving.
The Government will introduce new rules soon to give existing shops that serve the community, such as local post offices and pubs, extra protections.