We Are Big Local

Bookings now live! With Big Local coming to an end next year, we’re hosting an exhibition and evening event on Friday 27 March to mark the achievements of all 150 areas, and to celebrate the volunteers who have made Big Local what it is. 

If you’d like to join us, please secure your place by clicking the button below and completing our short form.  Each person attending needs to book for themselves.  

Book Here

What to expect?

The event opens at 4pm with tea and cake, giving you time to immerse yourself in the ‘Nothing about us without us’ Big Local exhibition.

We will then move into a drink’s reception and sit–down evening meal. This is a chance to have fun, celebrate with each other, and reflect on over a decade of community-led change.  You can expect dessert stalls, Big Local speakers, games, music and lots to keep you entertained. Think community festival but indoors! Please note that we will also have quieter spaces, for those keener for a chilled out event experience.  

• To ensure all areas have an opportunity to attend, we are capping attendance at three people per Big Local area. 
• We ask that the three places are prioritised for people who have been / are Big Local partnership members, but if places are not filled by partnership members they can be extended to others who have been active in the Big Local area. 

• If more than three people from your area are interested, we’ll be asking volunteers to organise among themselves who is best placed to attend.  

• We will be covering travel, accommodation and caring costs, which we hope will support you to join us on the day.  

Please make sure to book using the button above.  

If you have any further questions, you can check our FAQs below or email us on support@localtrust.org.uk   

We hope to see you there!  

We are Big Local: FAQs 

How many people from my Big Local area can attend? 

• A maximum of three people can attend from each Big Local area. This is to make sure all areas have the chance to come.  

• We are asking Big Local partnerships to organise among themselves who is best placed to attend the event.  

We recognise that, after more than a decade, there will be many Big Local volunteers who have had a huge impact on the programme and would like to celebrate with us.  

We will be operating a waiting list so, if more than three people from your area do want to attend, please email support@localtrust.org.uk with the additional name(s) and we will let you know if spaces become available. 

What happens if more than three people book from one Big Local area?

If more than three people book onto the event from one Big Local area we will contact the chair (or last known chair if closed out) to ask them to coordinate locally which three people should be prioritised as attendees, and who should go on the reserve list.  We ask that this is a local decision so please ensure you have had the chat locally.  

Can workers come?

We want to focus this celebration on the efforts of volunteer Big Local partnership members, so in the instance that more than three people want to attend the event, we ask that places are prioritised for Big Local partnership members. However, if the places are not full, workers or anyone else who has been integral to the delivery of Big Local in your community is welcome to fill the spaces.

How do I get there?

You can travel by train, car, or bus. We will cover all travel costs to and from the event. We will also book travel for you, if needed.   

We will collect all the information about your travel requirements as part of the booking process and confirm with you in the new year once tickets become available.  For now, please register your interest in attending using the button above and we will email you when booking opens.   

What about accommodation? And caring costs? 

We will cover accommodation for residents of all Big Local areas on the Friday night of the event. We will collect all the information about your accommodation requirements when you complete the booking form.  

We can also cover care expenses for residents with caring responsibilities, on a case-by-case basis. 

When do bookings open? 

Bookings are now live. Please book on individually.    

When do bookings close?

You can book until 28 February.  

My Big Local area has closed out / will have closed out by the time of the event, can we still attend? 

Yes. This event is for all 150 Big Local areas. 

How do I find out more about the event? 

We’ll be keeping the Local Trust website, Big Local newsletter and Facebook up to date with all the latest announcements about the event and fun things you can get involved in – keep your eyes peeled! 

I have registered my interest but now I can’t go

If you’re not able to attend, or would like to be taken off the registration list, please let us know by emailing support@localtrust.org.uk