Urban Forum was set up in 1994 as part of NCVO to promote community involvement in urban regeneration.

Since becoming an independent organisation in 1996 it has gone from strength to strength, developing excellent productive relationships with both voluntary and community organisations, Government and related policy-makers.

During the lifetime of the Forum its staff team and Board have grown in size and influence to its position today as one of the leading national organisations in the field of community involvement in regeneration. 

Our Track Record

Urban Forum has a long track record of acting as a bridge between local groups and policy-makers and we are regularly invited by Government to reflect the interests and experience of the community sector in urban regeneration policy-making. Our close relationship with government, coupled with our independence and accountability to community organisations, provides a unique and appropriate conduit for community perspectives to feed into policy-making.

Over recent years, Urban Forum has advised a number of Government Departments on policy development, particularly Communities and Local Government (previously ODPM), Office of the Third Sector (previously ACU at the Home Office) and Defra. Among the recent Government Advisory groups which we have contributed to are; the Local Community Sector Taskforce, the Ministerial Working Group on Sustainable Development, the Third Sector Strategy Advisory Group and the Local Area Agreements Project Board.

Urban Forum has conducted a number of important research projects to provide a community sector perspective and inform policy development. These include research on; Local Area Agreements and Community Empowerment Networks, the wind-down of the Single Regeneration Budget, community group's experience of the Planning system and partnership working between the community groups and elected Councillors.

Urban Forum has been at the forefront of representing the interests of community groups in the introduction of Local Strategic Partnerships and the establishment of Community Empowerment Networks. Our LSP Guide, now in its third edition, and our LSP Project have helped to increase community involvement in LSPs and local decision-making. Our work with New Deal for Communities residents has provided unique opportunities for networking and shared learning for residents from all 39 NDC pathfinders.

Our events consistently bring renowned experts from across the globe to raise debate and stimulate discussion across sectors. Over recent years, Stanley Greenberg, Geoff Mulgan, Stan Thekaekara and Michael Norton have all spoken at Urban Forum events.