Building Connections – Learning programmes
The Big Local programme has generated an extraordinary amount of data and research about delivering long-term, resident-led, hyper-local funding. In January 2026, Local Trust launched Learning from Big Local, a legacy website packed with Big Local learning resources and research in one easily navigable place .
To complement this, we are running a series of learning programmes throughout 2026 to bring this learning to life.
Our aim is to ensure the rich insights from Big Local can become practical knowledge for policy-makers, funders, practitioners and the wider voluntary and community sector after Local Trust’s closure and for years to come.
Why community development learning matters now
We’re seeing increasing investment in neighbourhood-level programmes, such as the government’s Pride in Place strategy, devolution legislation and the commitment to a Community Wealth Fund – as well as a shift from independent funders towards longer-term and more community-led, participatory and place-based approaches.
The Big Local programme ended in March 2026 and Local Trust will close by December 2026, so the time is now to ensure the lessons from Big Local are accessible and can be used to inform future programme design.
What you’ll learn from these programmes
Through a mix of seminars, workshops and visits to Big Local areas across the country, we’ll explore what really happened over more than a decade of neighbourhood-led change. What worked? What didn’t? And what can those involved in community regeneration and funders of civil society take forward into the future?
Sessions will bring together people directly involved in the design and delivery of Big Local to share their stories, experiences and reflections alongside Local Trust research and insights. Topics will offer deep dives into themes such as:
- Inclusion, representation and participation
- What sits around the money and lessons from Big Local support infrastructure
- Power, conflict and decision-making
- Long-term funding and good endings.
Big Local Unpacked: Open online learning programme
Working with London Funders we are running Big Local Unpacked.This is a series of online learning events focused on community-led and place-based funding approaches, with seven 90–minute online sessions running February–November 2026.
These events are open to anyone interested and will offer deep-dives into specific themes and topics from speakers with first-hand experience of the programme.
Find out more and register to attend the sessions here: Big Local Unpacked – Learning Series | London Funders.
Regional partner programmes
In addition to the online programme, we are working with a number of regional partners – catalysing existing networks and groups interested in place-based and community-led funding models – to bring people together in person for more in-depth, cohort learning approaches.
We are working with the following regional partners:
London
In addition to the online programme above, London Funders are running smaller in-person learning cohorts for specific audience groups across the capital.
North East
In partnership with VONNE (Voluntary Organisation Network North East) we will be running six events for their members, including the North East Funders Network, through Spring – Autumn 2026.
Yorkshire and Humber
Yorkshire Funders are hosting a series of workshops with their members through Spring – Autumn 2026.
We are also currently scoping equivalent learning programmes in the North West and Midlands.
If you’d like to find out more about these learning programmes and how to get involved, email programmes@localtrust.org.uk