SIR - Every day, tens of thousands of people go to work at one of the 7,000 community businesses in England. Hundreds of thousands of us shop, visit or benefit from them directly, yet are still relatively unknown. Amongst them are community shops, with an impressive survival rate of over 95per cent compared to around 50per cent for small businesses generally. In some communities, they can be the single biggest employer in the area.

Power to Change, the independent trust supporting community businesses in England, is organising Community Business Weekend (May 4-7) to shine a light on these gems that not only bring much needed services and spaces to a community but boost local economies and reinvest the profits for the benefit of local people. Pubs, libraries, housing, shops, farms, transport, and renewable energy are just some examples.

The weekend is an opportunity for community businesses to invite local people to see behind the scenes, understand how they can get involved in running a business for community good and have a say in local decision making.

Visit communitybusinessweekend.org.

Victoria Dickson, Yorkshire & the Humber representative for Community Business Weekend 2018