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Big Local areas have created a sense of pride and ownership in their neighbourhoods, through engagement with the wider community and innovative projects – from securing social infrastructure such as a community hub, to creating public murals, planting trees and installing new play equipment in neglected park spaces.

Many Big Local areas have developed initiatives to improve physical health, reduce social isolation and support mental wellbeing, promoting healthier, happier communities. Examples include establishing wellness centres, offering free fitness classes, and delivering mental health workshops and nutrition advice.

Through Big Local, resident-led initiatives to improve the local environment have been developed, engaging volunteers of all ages – from clean-up campaigns in parks, to transforming unused plots of land into community gardens and the development of a community-owned onshore wind turbine.

Projects delivered through Big Local include vocational training programmes, developed in partnership with local businesses and encouraging local entrepreneurship through mentoring, training and creating local workspaces. Designed to meet local needs, these projects have equipped residents with valuable skills, increasing employability and opening new career opportunities. 

Big Local areas have taken creative steps to build connections through community festivals, public art installations, workshops and other creative initiatives. From 2018 to 2022, Local Trust also supported the delivery of Creative Civic Change, which provided funding to 15 communities across England to lead and commission arts and creative interventions for positive social change.

Building capacity to tackle local challenges is at the heart of the Big Local programme. In 2020, Local Trust launched the Community Leadership Academy to support local people to develop their leadership skills and knowledge. Many have since become community leaders, serving as chair of their Big Local partnership, joining local councils and taking on other leadership roles. 

While the Big Local programme is coming to an end in 2026, many Big Local areas are creating lasting legacies that will benefit future generations. Examples include new community centres, that will continue to serve as a hub for social, educational and recreational activities, and heritage projects that have seen the restoration of historical landmarks.