‘Where are they now?’: The personal impact of Big Local
Join our former journalists-at-large Louise Tickle and Ryan Herman as they reconnect with individuals from across Big Local, and explore the personal impact being part of the programme has had on their lives.
In the first of our series of conversations, Louise Tickle sits down with Becky from Whitleigh Big Local in Plymouth, and Sharon, Rebecca and Reece from Ewanrigg Big Local in Cumbria, to reflect on their lives since they last met.
What Whitleigh Big Local means to Becky
Becky describes how being part of a supportive network helped her overcome anxiety, to become the community leader she is today.
What the pandemic taught us about community
Becky reflects on the ways COVID-19 revealed the untapped potential of communities, and the evolution of the bereavement café set up by Whitleigh Big Local.
Read Louise’s original story about Becky in her essay Courage to Succeed, and explore our in-depth research looking at how different communities responded to and recovered from the COVID-19 pandemic.
What Ewanrigg Big Local has meant to Reece and Rebecca
Hear from Reece, Rebecca and Sharon as they discuss the impact of Ewanrigg Big Local and the We Will campaign, which broke down the stigma surrounding mental health.
Hear more from Reece and Rebecca in our community power podcast and read our blog from policy officer Kyle Vanelli, looking at the potential for neighbourhood-level action to transform the way we treat health on a national level.
In the second of our series of conversations, Ryan Herman caught up with Lynda and Tanya from Heart of Sidley Big Local in Bexhill, East Sussex, and George and Carl from Arches Big Local in Chatham, Kent.
Delivering change that outlives Big Local
George reflects on his motivation for joining Arches Big Local and delivering change that will benefit generations to come.
Creating green spaces in urbanised areas
Arches has a transient and diverse population. George explains how they’ve focused on projects that foster pride in place, enrich the local environment and can be of benefit to the whole community.
Using art to foster pride in place
George explains how local stories and history can be woven into permanent street murals in thought–provoking ways, including through Arches’ work with the artist Dawid Woskerski.
Read our blog from policy researcher Steven Barclay, as he explores three key insights from our research seminar, ‘Pride in Place: Why is identifying with the place you live important?’
These conversations were recorded at the Big Local Connects event in October 2023 (Video: Local Trust/Press Record Films).
Lily Wakeley is the content assistant at Local Trust.
