A culture change is needed to make community involvement in regeneration a reality, according to a report published this week by the deputy prime minister.

Putting People at the Heart of Urban Renaissance, by Urban Forum and the Black Training and Enterprise Group, recommends that the government needs to invest in voluntary and community groups as much as in the business sector.

Urban Forum policy development officer Caroline Bond said: "What we would like to see is the government translating the rhetoric of community involvement into an action plan with long term resourcing for the community and voluntary sector.

"This could be achieved through mainstreaming the Community Empowerment Fund in every area."

But the report, based on feedback from 250 voluntary organisations, also says that voluntary groups themselves need to modernise and be more responsive, especially to black and minority communities.