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blog Apr 2026 Community spirit Culture and creativity

How Big Local built a legacy of place-based pride

As the Big Local programme draws to a close, the legacy of place-based pride it has built across 150 communities will continue. Whether through annual street festivals, murals celebrating local heritage, or young people co-producing films about their lived experiences, residents have shown time and again that pride in place grows when communities are trusted to lead.

blog Apr 2026 Community spirit

“The community feels prouder to live in Sale West”

After the birth of her daughter, Clare Standish was searching for flexible work which led her to Our Sale West Big Local. She reflects on a decade of change in Sale West, from a neglected park and empty youth centre to a thriving community hub recognised across Greater Manchester as a model of good practice.

research Health and wellbeing

Neighbourhood health and local government

This report summarises insights from the policy sprint which explores how neighbourhood health can reshape public services by shifting power to communities.

blog Mar 2026 Community spirit Health and wellbeing

Social Prescribing Day: strengthening health through community

On Social Prescribing Day, it’s time to spotlight an often overlooked approach to health. By connecting people to community support, social prescribing tackles the root causes of poor wellbeing—helping people live healthier lives while easing pressure on frontline services.

blog Mar 2026 Community spirit

Big Local is ending – but the legacy of resident-led change continues

When Big Local launched 15 years ago, it handed 150 neighbourhoods across England £1m each — and, more importantly, the freedom to decide how to spend it. Now that the programme is coming to an end, Local Trust CEO Rachel Rowney reflects on what residents built, why it worked, and how the idea behind it is shaping the future of community funding.

Ahead of our planned closure at the end of the year, discover Learning from Big Local – your resource for community-led change.

Ahead of our planned closure at the end of the year, discover Learning from Big Local – your resource for community-led change.

Visit Learning from Big Local