Community Right to Challenge

What is the Community Right to Challenge?

The Community Right to Challenge came into force on 27 June 2012. It allows voluntary and community groups, charities, parish councils or council employees to bid to run a local authority service where they believe they can do so differently and better.

The Community Right to Challenge applies to the majority of services provided by or on behalf of Birmingham City Council. This can be an entire service or part of a service.

If an organisation is interested in running a service they have to submit an expression of interest, or bid, to the Council. The Council has to decide whether to accept, modify or reject it. If the expression of interest is accepted then a normal procurement exercise will take place, those that put forward the expression of interest can take part along with any other interested organisations.

The Social Investment Business has launched the Community Right to Challenge grants programme available to organisations wanting to take up opportunities under this new Right. Locality, a network for community-led organisations, offers advice and support on the Community Right to Challenge and the funding available.

For more detailed information on the Community Right to Challenge please click on the relevant steps of the process outlined below.