What was the significance of community action to the Labour movement in Britain during the 1980s? Ray Lees and Marjorie Mayo explore this question in Community Action for Change (first published in 1984), arguing that the Labour movement needed to revitalize its strength in response to the growing dominance of the New Right. They propose that this renewal could be achieved by developing social values rooted in the social needs often expressed through community action.

Through a series of case studies focused on local community resource centres, the authors examine the contributions, challenges, and limitations of this approach. These case studies address key issues such as employment and unemployment, housing, planning and tenants’ activism, as well as information campaigns.

Lees and Mayo’s analysis of these activities remains highly relevant for shaping future community interventions and broader campaigns, particularly in light of the political climate of the 1980s under a Conservative government.