The community power podcast
What happens when you give local people the money, power, and assets to make a difference in their neighbourhoods?
In our brand new weekly podcast series, we'll be speaking to inspiring individuals about what they've done to energise their communities around topics like heritage, mental health, and climate.
Episode 1: Introducing The community power podcast
Listen to our CEO, Matt Leach, as he explains the inspiration for our new series and what you can expect.
You can find out more about the Community Wealth Fund here and the APPG for left-behind neighbourhoods here.
Episode 2: Restoring ruins in Northumberland
Award-winning community archaeologist, Barry Mead, is passionate about the value resident-led regeneration can create within a community. With a love for history, heritage and people, Barry shares the amazing story of how he and local residents converted a crumbling medieval tower into a thriving community hub.
Episode 3: Mental health matters in Maryport
Through the simple power of listening, Ewanrigg Big Local have transformed mental health support and awareness in their remote, Cumbrian town of Maryport. Big Local residents and worker – Sharon, Jaz, and Kate – tell us more about the success of their HUG A MUG initiative and We Will campaign.
Episode 4: Climate-proofing communities in North Bristol
Ambition Lawrence Weston are the proud owners of the largest wind turbine in England. However, this national project came from humble beginnings when our guest Mark Pepper and the rest of Lawrence Weston Big Local decided to make climate change real for their community in North Bristol. You can have a look at their Community Climate Action Plan here.
Episode 5: Community leadership in Walsall
‘Everybody wants good for themselves, but the good ones are those who want good for others’.
Inspired by her father’s ethos, Imrana Niazi joined Palfrey Big Local and quickly became a powerful leader within her community – delivering innovative youth violence and victim support programmes across Walsall.
Episode 6: Cooking up a storm in Brinnington
Two years on from the pandemic, Mark Mitchell from Brinnington Big Local shares how the community rallied around to provide an emergency response effort – including addressing food poverty through their project ‘cooking up a storm’.
Episode 7: Tackling health inequality in Solihull
Sports and wellbeing enthusiast Luke Freer, shares the power of having trusted, local and passionate people onside when it comes to turning around health inequalities within a community – just as they have done in The Cars area, Solihull.
Episode 8: Inspiring youth action in Hounslow
Getting young people to volunteer for their community is no mean feat! Debbie Noad and Layba Nisar, from Heston West Big Local, share how they’ve inspired their diverse and youthful community to take action.
Episode 9: Making space for creativity in Cornwall
What happens when you make the space for adults to create, play, fail and try again in the way we do as children? Hannah and Liz, from Make Space Cornwall share the benefits they have seen since encouraging their community to express themselves through art projects.
Episode 10: Rebuilding community spirit in Liverpool
What can be done when a community has lost the spark it used to have? Debbie Stephens and Suey Lee from L30’s Million, share how they rekindled local pride in the Netherton community through a focus on strengthening local people and assets.
Episode 11: Engaging the next generation in the Black Country
Grace Mary to Lion Farm Big Local share how they’ve united young people from across several neighbourhoods to make where they live a better place, including two of the young people themselves – Lewis and Nick.
Episode 12: Highlights from Series 1
In the final episode of the series, we are looking back at some of the best bits with Local Trust CEO Matt Leach. Thanks to all of our guests this series, we will be back for more of The community power podcast later this year.
In the meantime, you can find out more about Big Local here: About Big Local – Local Trust
And the Community Wealth Fund here: Community Wealth Fund
