A range of practical strategies to rejuvenate town centres has been published jointly by the National Skills Academy for Retail, the Association of Town Centre Management, Local Government Improvement and Development and the Institute of Place Management. It provides guidance, practical tips and projects to regenerate local high streets.

Plans for the first National Citizen Service pilots for 15-16 year olds were announced by the Prime Minister and will commence in summer 2011. Commissioning of the pilots was launched on 2nd August for organisations to bid to deliver the pilots.

Read Urban Forum's briefing on the National Citizen Service

Joseph Rowntree Foundation have published a new study of how people in six ‘economically vulnerable areas' are coping during the early stages of the recession. The research focuses on the perceptions and experiences of local people and what contributes to different levels of resilience.

Communities and Local Government has published the findings from the 2009-10 annual Citizenship Survey. The results show that 37% of people feel they can influence decisions in their local area, which is down slightly from 39% last year and 44% in 2001.