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2023 saw three individuals from the Big Local programme – Waqas Arshad, Brenda Lines and Lawrence O’Halleron recognised for their contributions to their local communities.

In 2012, the Big Local programme was launched with the goal of empowering local residents to drive transformative change within their communities. At its heart are the partnership members and residents who contribute their time and energy to bringing about local change.

At the end of 2023, three individuals — Waqas Arshad from Bradley Big Local, Brenda Lines from DY10 Big Local, and Lawrence O’Halleron from Big Local Gateshead — were nominated in the King’s New Year Honours List for their contributions to their communities.

Waqas Arshad

Portrait image of Waqas smiling

Waqas, who is the chair of Bradley Big Local, was awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM) for services to families with mental health issues.

Waqas has been part of Bradley Big Local since it began. Now, with the area soon to close out of the Big Local programme, plans are underway to continue their work as a new organisation, Hodge House Community Trust.

“Receiving the British Empire Medal has left me profoundly humbled and filled with a deep sense of gratitude, as it symbolises not only a personal achievement but also the collective efforts and shared values of my incredible support network, colleagues, and the inspiring individuals I’ve had the privilege to work with on this journey.”

Waqas has been working with his community on the development of affordable housing in the area. Moving forwards, a significant focus will be on the realisation of a community wellbeing centre and a cutting-edge 3G pitch, strategically positioned next to the existing Hodge House Community Centre.

Just get involved with any project that you know or feel towards. Whether it’s helping out in the library, food bank, whatever it is, you might make a difference to someone’s life that week.”

Waqas Arshad

There are also plans to encourage younger people to feel enthusiastic about actively engaging in community initiatives, underscoring the ongoing commitment to enhancing wellbeing and creating lasting social infrastructure that will benefit residents for years to come. As Waqas explains:

“A football pitch with an attached wellbeing centre is destined to be utilised by children and parents alike. It embodies a holistic approach that extends across all families – truly for anyone and everyone.”

Read more about Waqas’ experiences and the work of Bradley Big Local.

Brenda Lines

Brenda Lines wearing black jacket

Brenda is the chair of Big Local DY10. She has lived in the neighbourhood of Broadwater and Greenhill in Kidderminster for more than 35 years. Recognising her dedication and contribution to the community, Brenda was honoured with the Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) award.

In her role as chair, Brenda has spearheaded a strategic Big Local partnership, collaborating with residents to address the specific needs of the Horsefair, Broadwater, and Greenhill areas.

Our whole thing has been about growing people, growing groups and then growing volunteers.”

Brenda Lines

Through inclusive and insightful consultations, they’ve worked to ensure that the community’s unique requirements have been identified and met with effective solutions.

“There are three very distinct areas,” Brenda explains. “The Horsefair was identified some years ago as an area of highest need. The Broadwater has been identified as one of the areas of greatest unemployment in the West Midlands. Greenhill has got one or two pockets of what I would call deprivation, but it’s also got some high-end, middle-class housing as well.”

Reflecting on a transformative decade, Brenda has observed the evolution of not only the physical landscape, but also the diverse communities and organisations in the area.

“We’ve funded the growth of a community café,” she explains. “We have paid for the training of the volunteers and we bought them all the furniture and the kitchen stuff. But they’re the ones that [run] it.

“The community groups, the people in those community groups … they’re the successes. I think what the partnership has done is, it’s allowed people to grow.”

Listen to Brenda in a round table discussion of David Boyle’s essay Counterweight.

Lawrence O’Halleron

Portrait photo of Lawrence O'Halloran

For almost five decades, Lawrence O’Halleron has been a resident of the Bensham, Teams and Racecourse estates in Gateshead. For more than ten years, he’s been dedicated to the work carried out by Big Local Gateshead.

In recognition of his extensive contributions to the community, Lawrence was honoured with the Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE).

“I was thrilled and gobsmacked when I heard about my award. It makes me very proud to receive an MBE for supporting and representing local people.”

As well as being the founder and leader of a cycling club comprising 50 members, Lawrence has actively participated in the establishment of a community shop and is working towards a community café in Gateshead, as well as being involved in various youth-centred projects.

The first step is the hardest step with volunteering. I’ll go out and see if people want to volunteer, just have a quick chat and let them see that there is nothing to be frightened of.”

Lawrence O’Halleron

Lawrence’s multifaceted involvement in Big Local underscores his commitment to enhancing the wellbeing and connectivity of the community he calls home.

“There is a lot going on,” Lawrence explains. “We’re working with local groups and charities to bring local residents together. We have contributed towards activities in the sound room for people to record, and towards activities in the activity centre. We have a football club and a community allotment, which is really popular with the schools and the three residential homes in our area.

“When the school comes at the same time as the older people, where some of them haven’t got grandmas and grandads, all of a sudden you have them having a cup of tea together in the allotment. It’s brilliant.”

Read more about Lawrence’s work and find out about Gateshead Big Local’s cycling club, Teams Wheelers, in episode two, season three of the community power podcast.