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    The latest news and stories from Big Local areas and beyond, exploring community power and resident-led change.

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    The latest news and announcements from Local Trust and the Big Local programme.

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    Conversations exploring the most important issues affecting communities today.

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    Ideas and insights about Big Local and the impact of community-led change.

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Policy

We believe more power, resources and decisions should be in the hands of local people.

Our work

Our policy and advocacy work aims to demonstrate the value of long-term, unconditional, resident-led funding, and draws on learning from delivering the Big Local programme to promote a wider transformation in the way policy makers, funders and others engage with communities and place.
‘Left behind’ neighbourhoods

Areas which face the double disadvantage of high deprivation and a lack of social infrastructure.
A crowd of people in a community hub, a key example of social infrastructure
What is social infrastructure?

The physical spaces and social networks that help a community thrive.
A group of adults and children sit on a picnic blanket enjoying snacks on a sunny field, with others seated nearby. In the background, a small outdoor stage hosts a live performance, and rows of houses line the far edge of the green space.
Health inequalities

Community-led initiatives targeting those most at risk of experiencing health inequalities.
Five storey block of red brick flats. Trees with green leaves are planted in front.
Housing and new developments

What is needed for new places and their future residents to thrive over the long term?

Policy research and opinion

Our latest news, blogs and research on improving prospects for communities across England

News
A tall brown brick high-rise apartment building with numerous white-framed windows and balconies on the left side. The photo is taken from a low angle, looking up toward a partly cloudy blue sky.
Housing
Delivery of affordable housing should not be at the expense of social infrastructure, Local Trust warns

As the Planning and Infrastructure Bill enters its commons committee stage,...
blog
Adults sitting at a round table at an event
Health and wellbeing
Neighbourhood Health in Action: Insights from six communities leading change

Local Trust is working in partnership with NHS Confederation on a...
research
Everybody needs good neighbourhoods 2

This report shows that empowering communities boosts local economies, reduces crime,...
Community spirit Local economies

Find more policy content

Community Needs Index

The Community Needs Index is a quantitative, evidence-based measure
that captures the social infrastructure challenges faced in deprived
communities.

Find out more

Publication series

A group of three people laughing together. They are wearing dark coloured jackets and standing in a park at a community event, with some more people in the background.
Social Capital 2025: Building connection, improving outcomes

A series of papers exploring how strong social capital can improve social and economic outcomes at the neighbourhood level.
Making the government’s missions work in neighbourhoods

Discover how the Labour government's missions can be implemented on a neighbourhood level.

Our legacy

The projects and campaigns you might know us for

 

A group of people walk along a paved path in a park with grass and trees on either side. There is a grey sky and some houses in the background.
The national network for neighbourhood improvement

Our partnership with Capacity convenes local government to drive community-led regeneration in the neighbourhoods that need it most.
The Community Wealth Fund

Local Trust was a founding member of the successful campaign to secure dormant assets funding for a Community Wealth Fund.
The APPG for ‘left behind’ neighbourhoods

Local Trust acted as secretariat to the All-Party Parliamentary Group for ‘left behind’ neighbourhoods.