Legacy network offers
Find out how you can continue to get support to deliver community-led change after you’ve closed out of the Big Local programme, through these legacy network offers.
Locality membership
Big Local partnerships approaching close out can get a two-year ‘Membership Plus’ membership for their legacy organisation or project, which gives you access to Locality’s national network.
Locality’s membership network is a learning and networking space for groups and organisations who are bringing communities together. The network has over 1,500 members large and small, across England with a shared belief in the power of community to transform lives.
The Locality ‘Membership Plus’ membership will give you access to:
- An onboarding event with other Big Local areas to share experiences and connect with other Locality members who have similar needs and interests.
- Limited 1:1 support from a dedicated Locality advisor nearby, who can support you through community development and help tackle issues as they arise.
- Two participatory workshops on common needs such as assets, incorporation, business planning, governance and HR or community engagement and volunteers.
- Regular networking and learning opportunities with other Big Local areas and Locality members to build partnerships, gain advice, understand new grants and more.
- A free, access all areas ticket to Locality’s annual convention – two days of innovation, inspiration and connection, much like Big Local Connects.
- A half-day review and goal-setting workshop at the end of the first year of your membership to take stock of progress and set priorities for year two.
You will be able to access this offer within a year of your close out from the Big Local programme and will need to sign up before your area closes out from the programme. Membership costs are covered by Local Trust for two years.
On the final page of the sign up form you will have the option to submit an introductory code. Just use the code BigLocal23 and you will not have to pay the £1,450 + VAT fee for Membership Plus*.
*Please note, we will be verifying any organisations who use this code so please only use it if you are a Big Local area who will be closing out of the programme in the next 12 months.
Community Organisers’ Practitioners Network (CPN)
The CPN is an external network run by community organisers. It offers you the chance to:
- access expert guest lectures and webinars
- take part in a range of topical conversations
- expand your network of personal and professional contacts
All in a way that fits in with your individual working patterns and needs.
We encourage workers to sign up to this network, or volunteers from areas without a worker. It’s an opportunity to build networks with people outside of Big Local, making it particularly useful for partnerships coming to the end of the programme.
You will need to sign up before your area closes out from the Big Local programme. A worker or a volunteer from your area can then access membership to this network for 12 months.
Community Leadership Academy (CLA) fellowship
Individuals who have participated in the CLA can join the fellowship network for free. This network is managed by Koreo, who will share sign-up details with all individuals involved in the CLA programme.
Amazing Communities Together (ACT)
ACT is a resident-led organisation built by people involved in delivering Big Local across the country, formerly known as Big Locals Together, and is open to both individuals and community groups.
As a member of ACT, you will be able to:
- Stay connected to your Big Local peers, beyond the end of the programme and the closure of Local Trust
- Find fresh community development ideas and best-practice examples – and share your own
- Get advice on tricky topics, from people who’ve been there, done that (and got the t-shirt)
- Stay in the loop and signup for events, networking, funding, and collaboration opportunities
- Become part of a movement for change beyond the end of Big Local, investing what you’ve learned into a network that hopes to give long-term power and voice to communities.
Membership is free and will initially include access to a monthly newsletter, a Facebook group and regular events. The ACT network will launch at Connects 2023 (27-28 October) and will continue to evolve as more people join. Sign up to the mailing list now to become part of the network when it launches.
Accessing Local Trust events after close out
Areas that have closed out of the Big Local programme are welcome to sign up to attend our online and in-person events. However, places are prioritised for areas that are still in the programme, and in some instances, we may need to turn away attendees from closed out areas.
Please read the event information carefully before signing up to in-person events, as Local Trust will not always be able to fund travel, accommodation or expenses for areas that have closed out of the Big Local programme.
If you’re looking for networks that can help you to support specific projects or outcomes within your community, have a look at our wider networks page.