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This series of three programmes highlights initiatives happening at a local level that are improving the quality of life in communities across the UK.
It's commitment that counts. This series shows, individuals, groups and whole communities working against the odds to change their neighbourhoods into better places to live in.
Civic Pioneers
In the first programme we catch up with three committed individuals who've got involved in community-led projects by signing up to the Government’s Civic Pioneers’ Network.
In Plymouth, Debbie Austin’s social enterprise company, Pro-active, provides hands-on experience of local government, democracy, crime and justice to Year 10 students. She takes them out of the classroom and into places where they can watch citizenship in action.
 In East Anglia, local vicar Andy Dotchin has set up a scheme called Br8ktime that is bridging the generation gap between young and old by providing a place where they can meet and get to know each other - essential for community cohesion.
In Hammersmith, the pioneering Masbro Moto scheme enables young enthusiasts to race their bikes safely and learn how to maintain them, keeping the streets free from the dangers of mini motorbikes and the local residents happy.
Active Learning for Active Citizenship
Making changes in your community can be hard work. In this programme we follow the story of three inspiring groups using government-funded education schemes to improve their lives and where they live.
Impact is a course run for women in the Black Country. It teaches politics and empowerment and its graduates, like Pauline and Nusrat, have gone on to win awards for their community work.
 In Sheffield, Somali parents like Yasmin Mohamud are learning new campaigning skills to ensure a better education for their kids, while on an estate in North London the kids are doing it for themselves.
With help from Youth Act, Raste and Jordan have tackled pimps, prostitutes and drugs to improve life on their estate and secure a better future for all the residents.
Guide Neighbourhood
The third programme tells two powerful stories of residents that have banded together to turn their communities around - the people of Balsall Heath in Birmingham and Pembroke Street in Plymouth.
Fifteen years ago the Pembroke Street Estate was one of the most deprived areas in the country with poverty and violent crime part of everyday life. During the 1980s, Balsall Heath was a notorious red light district with prostitutes displaying themselves “Amsterdam-style”.
But the gritty determination of residents of both communities working in partnership with local authorities has enabled them to turn their neighbourhoods around.
As part of the Government’s Guide Neighbourhood Programme they now help empower other communities to make similar changes.
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