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About
About
Local Trust is a place-based funder supporting communities to achieve their ambitions.
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Big Local
Big Local
Big Local is an exciting opportunity for residents in 150 areas to create lasting change in their communities.
About the programme< Back to main menuSupport centre
Essential guidance, information and ideas for Big Local partnerships, to help you deliver change in your community.
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Other programmes
Other programmes
Find out how the principles of Big Local have inspired other programmes creating change in local communities.
< Back to main menuCommunity Leadership Academy
Supporting volunteers involved in Big Local projects to develop their skills and knowledge.
Find out moreCreative Civic Change
This new approach to funding enabled communities to use art and creativity to make positive local change.
Find out more
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News and stories
News and stories
The latest news and stories from Big Local areas and beyond, exploring community power and resident-led change.
ExploreGo straight to…
< Back to main menuVoices of Big Local
Inspiring stories from the people making change happen in their communities.
Read more - Insights
- Policy
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About
About
Local Trust is a place-based funder supporting communities to achieve their ambitions.
Find out moreGo straight to…
< Back to main menu -
Big Local
Big Local
Big Local is an exciting opportunity for residents in 150 areas to create lasting change in their communities.
About the programme< Back to main menuSupport centre
Essential guidance, information and ideas for Big Local partnerships, to help you deliver change in your community.
Visit the support centre -
Other programmes
Other programmes
Find out how the principles of Big Local have inspired other programmes creating change in local communities.
< Back to main menuCommunity Leadership Academy
Supporting volunteers involved in Big Local projects to develop their skills and knowledge.
Find out moreCreative Civic Change
This new approach to funding enabled communities to use art and creativity to make positive local change.
Find out more -
News and stories
News and stories
The latest news and stories from Big Local areas and beyond, exploring community power and resident-led change.
ExploreGo straight to…
< Back to main menuVoices of Big Local
Inspiring stories from the people making change happen in their communities.
Read more - Insights
- Policy
Wider networks of support after close out
As your area moves towards closing out from Big Local, you may wish to join networks that can support specific activities or projects you are continuing with beyond Big Local.
Below are some networks and resources to help you get started on making those links. We recommend that you do some research to find out if a network will suit your needs. Your area adviser or coordinator can also help link you with local or regional networks.
- Movement for Neighbourhood Democracy: A movement to create real democracy in every community and a real shift of power to local people. The Neighbourhood Democracy Movement exists to create a world where everyone can get involved in the life of their local community and everyone has the right to meet, make decisions and act together to make all their neighbourhood a better, more welcoming and beautiful places to live. Membership is free and you can contact other members via the website.
- MyCommunity: My Community is a website for people and organisations who are passionate about their community. Finding informative, accurate, up-to-date resources can be a real challenge for community groups and individuals looking to make change in their community. My Community provides a central hub for this information and support – saving local charities, community groups, and individual change-makers valuable time, and empowering them to provide even better services and support.
- Co-Operate group of community organisers: add your group to find volunteers, raise donations, swap equipment and resources or promote an activity. You can promote your work for free and reach thousands of people.
- Social Enterprise UK: the biggest network of social enterprises in the country. Provides members with guidance, opportunities, and a strong collective voice for the sector.
- Transition Network: A movement consisting of community-led groups working for a low-carbon, socially just future with resilient communities, more active participation in society, and caring culture focused on supporting each other. In practice, they use participatory methods to imagine the change they want to see, setting up renewable energy projects, re-localising food systems, and creating community and green spaces. Find out more about the current Transition Network groups.
- Friends of the Earth Climate Action Groups: you can join up with an existing group or register as a new one. Climate Action groups are the local solution to a global crisis. They harness community power to make neighbourhoods more climate friendly, greener and safer for all. So far, they’ve secured some big wins, like 75% of newly elected metro mayors taking a pledge to adopt Climate Action Plans and create green jobs. You’ll be offered lots of support and training opportunities to be able to make a difference.
- Groundwork website: Find out what grant funding is available in your area for poverty alleviation or environmental projects. You can also find training, support and advice for projects through finding your nearest Groundwork.
- National Federation of Park and Green Spaces: this is the umbrella organisation for area forums and networks of local Friends’ groups for all public green spaces throughout the UK. There’s more information on setting up a Friends Group on the Parks Community website.
- Conservation Volunteers Community Network: The Conversation Volunteers (TCV) developed a community network to support the thousands of groups across the UK who are passionate about the creation and protection of local green spaces. You will have access to TCV resources, help with health and safety guidance, safeguarding supports, obtaining insurance at a reduced rate, and volunteer recruitment and retention.
- Woodland Social Enterprise Network: Making Local Woods Work have developed this Facebook group as a space for those who are involved with woodland social enterprise to access peer support and share ideas and information with the wider woodlands network. You can find other resources and join the mailing list on the Making Local Woods Work website.
- ACRE network: members of the ACRE Network are charitable local development agencies that can provide support for a wide range of rural community projects and initiatives. You can contact your local ACRE Network member to find out more about their projects, advice and support for your rural community. Services include funding applications, health & wellbeing projects, energy advice and volunteer management.
- Youth Music Network: An online community for everyone whose work involves making music with children and young people.
- Young Poets Network: Connect with other young people (up to the age of 25) and find features, challenges and competitions, advice and guidance.
- Reading Groups for Everyone: the UK’s largest network of book groups. You can sign up a book group for free and have access to offers from publishers, news and events.
- Family Arts Networks: this network is part of the Family Arts Campaign. The networks are a way for local organisations to work together to share learnings, provide a wide range of quality family arts experiences, reach more family audiences, engage with more diverse families and better understand their needs. The Family Arts Campaign has fostered the creation of Local Family Arts Networks with a place-based and collaborative emphasis, focussing on specific regional knowledge and sharing insights, resources and skills.
- Digital Culture Network: this network is run by the Arts Council and provides free tech advice and support for not-for-profit arts and culture organisations and projects. Submit your request for support to their dedicated tech champions and join events.
- National Criminal Justice Arts Alliance (NCJAA): a part of Clinks, the NCJAA provides a network for those specifically working in arts and criminal justice. The network champions the needs of the sector, provides resources and opportunities and hosts good practice events.
- Action Funder: Find funding or join up with a funded non-profit. Action Funder is a multi-award-winning B Corp with 15+ years’ experience in connecting businesses and foundations with local communities. They work directly with community leaders across the UK, and partners around the globe, to drive measurable impact in businesses and in local communities. Action Funder allows groups to create a single project pitch that funders will be able to view, shortlist and invite to be funded.
- Centre for Sustainable Energy funding sources list: This list has been prepared by CSE to help community groups find sources of funding for sustainable energy projects.
Related resources
If you are currently thinking about close out, the following pages and guidance may also be helpful.
