The Place Matters interactive map helps funders discover and connect with place-based organisations driving systemic change across the UK. It highlights bright spots of community-led work, shows who’s funding where, and identifies areas that are currently underserved.
At Place Matters, we work to accelerate the impact of place-based change work. We believe that lasting change happens when communities are supported to lead their own solutions. Across the UK, there are many organisations who are driving systems change through their networks and communities, unlocking long term benefits for the people and places they care about. But often, despite there being an abundance of funders that want to support this work, their stories go unseen and their work struggles. That's where the Place Matters interactive map comes in.
Our map is a living tool designed to shine a light on the bright spots of place-based work happening across the country. It’s a starting point for funders, policy-makers, and partners to explore and connect with areas where this change is happening on a broad scale, who is funding in those areas, and to visualise the places that are currently underserved.
What is the Place Matters Map?
The Place Matters map is a publicly accessible, interactive platform that showcases organisations leading place-based approaches in the UK. These aren’t just service providers; they are anchor organisations working across systems including: health, education, housing, employment, and more. They hold a deep understanding of place, bring together diverse partners, and create the conditions for long-term change.
The map allows users to explore organisations geographically and thematically. You can browse by region, zoom into specific areas, and click through to learn more about each organisation’s approach, priorities, and partnerships.
Why It’s Useful for Funders
For funders looking to support transformational, community-led work, the map offers several practical benefits:
● Identify bright spots: Quickly find areas where place-based work is already making an impact. These are organisations with established local trust and a track record of facilitating change.
● Explore opportunities: Whether you’re looking to fund or collaborate on a specific region or theme, such as youth services, climate resilience, or health equity, the map aims to provide a bird’s-eye view of who’s doing this on a systemic level.
● Build partnerships: The map isn’t just about visibility. It’s about connection. Funders can use it as a tool to reach out, listen, and build relationships with place-based leaders who are already trusted in their communities, and to other funders already working in that area, who may have local knowledge and a drive to collaborate.
What’s Next for the Map?
We’re currently developing Phase 2 of the map, building on what we’ve learned and the feedback we’ve received. This next phase will make the map even more useful, not only for funders, but for communities, policymakers, and networks of practice.
Some of the improvements in the pipeline include:
● Better data visualisation and filtering options
● Enhanced profiles for organisations, including richer descriptions of their systems-change work
● Regular updates to reflect the evolving landscape of place-based work
We Want to Hear From You
As we build the next version of the Place Matters map, we’d love to hear from those who might use it, especially funders and community organisations. What would make the tool more useful to you? What kind of information or functionality would help you make better-informed decisions and build stronger partnerships?
If you have suggestions, feedback, or are simply curious to learn more, please get in touch. We’re always open to ideas and collaboration.
The Funders Collaborative Hub publishes a range of perspectives. The views expressed here are those of the authors, not necessarily those of ACF.
