Community Roots CIC

Our Story began in March 2013, and from that point we have worked consistently to build upon the Community Organising skills we gained by participating in the National Community Organising programme.

Since inception, we have been pioneers of Community Organising in Gloucestershire and have built up a portfolio of evidence to show that using this approach creates positive change.

We work with communities to develop their confidence, use their voices and skills to take action on the things that really matter to them in order to create changes that will have a positive impact on their lives and the wider community.

We are a well formed team with a broad range of skills and we work with a range of community organisations, community members and other community organisers.

Community Roots are members of Community Organisers Ltd, a national network of community organisers across the UK, we are an Affiliated Training Organisation and deliver quality assured training courses. We run a Social Action Hub at the Ewe Space in Matson and are currently working to develop another in the Westgate area of Gloucester.

A Social Action Hub is

Is -

A single organisation or cluster of organisations working together.
Dedicated to a local area, community or neighbourhood.
Accountable to local people.
Socially responsible with profits used only for social good.
Committed to igniting social change through community organising.
Working for a more socially just, caring and cooperative society.

Works to -

Promote the values, principles and methods of community organising.
Use a community organising approach to help people listen, be powerful, and take action.
Support networks of people who are involved in taking action for change.
Build relationships locally and nationally.

As community organisers we are guided by our Principles of Practice and our Community Organising Framework

Our Team

Penny Liddicot

Penny has worked in communities for more than 30 years and feels passionately about the ability of people as individuals and groups to do amazing things and change the communities we live in.

Penny has previously led on our community organising training and developed our Community Conversation program.

Most recently Penny has been supporting residents in Matson and helping them to develop their Community hub - The Ewe Space.

Deb Baker

Deb's background is in the creative sector - from running community workshops through to business management. Over the last 20 years, she has been involved with supporting many communities of interest.

From 2021 to 2024 Deb was involved in developing Feeding Gloucestershire and she continues to support the work of Nourishing Gloucester and Good Food Cheltenham and the Cheltenham Food Board.

Deb is currently supporting the development of two community enterprises in the Westgate Ward of Gloucester.