Jo Melbah - Reimagining Community Development

Jo Melbah discusses how The Good Thing Collective (GTC), which she co-founded, is pioneering a new model of community-led regeneration, blending creativity, social impact, and sustainable enterprise to transform a struggling seaside town. GTC's journey illuminates the potential of community ownership in driving local economic resilience and cultural transformation. However, it also highlights the tensions between grassroots innovation and established systems, particularly in securing resources and communicating complex models to external stakeholders. As GTC expands its physical footprint and ambitions, it offers valuable insights into scaling community-led change while maintaining core values and local rootedness. Jo discusses how: 1. Community ownership and democratic governance can create more resilient, locally-rooted development models. 2. Organic, relationship-based approaches yield more meaningful outcomes than structured programs. 3. Conventional funding models struggle to accommodate innovative, multi-faceted community enterprises. 4. Creating conditions for spontaneous interaction and creativity is crucial for fostering community-led change. 5. Balancing grassroots responsiveness with strategic growth requires constant negotiation and clear communication.