BLOG: Big Local Getting Started – ‘What’s Going On?’

by Mark Breen (communications and public affairs co-ordnator) and Zoe Sykiotis (programme co-ordinator)

As the ’60s came to a close and the 70s began, Marvin Gaye released a sublimely soulful piece of social commentary in ‘What’s Going On’. If you haven’t listened to the song in a while I suggest you dust it off and have a listen.

Fast forward 30 something years. And 5 months after the announcement of the second wave of Big Local areas and with several months until the Big Lottery Fund announce the third and final wave of Big Local areas, we thought we would illustrate ‘What’s Going On?’ in a few Big Local areas, albeit in a slightly less soulful way.

46 of the first 50 Big Local areas have now taken their Getting People Involved funding, four areas haven’t take their allocation, but that is fine, as we know that each area will be doing things in a different way. Some of the second wave of areas have started to send us their Getting Started proposals and so far we have funded four of them. We have also funded four areas with some pathway funding to help them on their journey towards creating their Big Local partnership and Big Local plan.

What has been interesting to see is the range of things people plan to use some of this early funding for. People in Big Local areas are coming up with some fantastic fun ideas for getting members of the community involved and talking to one and other. Such as:

• Finding a future star and getting people talking about Big Local by holding a Big Local areas Got Talent competition.
• Hosting a community day including a choir, local bands, arts and crafts, street dance, and interestingly ‘a wall of a million ideas’ (we want to see the photos of this).
• Driving a health bus around the area to chat about Big Local with as many residents as possible.
• Taking over the airwaves and getting the Big Local message in print, as areas work with local radio, television ad newspaper to raise awareness about what’s going on.
• Creating a buzz about Big Local by taking a spin in the ‘Shed on Wheels.’ Using a 70’s milk float to tour the neighbourhood.

As we mentioned earlier though, each area moves at a speed that is appropriate to them. It has been fascinating to hear of some of the great things that are being done in some areas that haven’t yet taken funding, such as Scotlands & Bushbury Hill Big Local in Wolverhampton who have created the YouTube video below. To continue with the musical theme it is set to a soundtrack by Elbow. At their health and well-being event on 29 March  people had the chance to share some of their aspirations. Some talked to camera, but most spelt out their hopes using fridge magnets!

Keep sending in your links to videos on YouTube and we’ll do our best to mention them in a future blog or newsletter, and we can certainly make sure you are on the Big Local YouTube channel. So other areas and those with an interest can keep up with what you are up to.

As we work with areas to look at their Getting People Involved / Getting Started proposals, and begin to move on to supporting you to develop a Big Local partnership and plan we aim to provide a flexible approach to helping you access your funding and the better we get to know you the more tailored we can make this experience. Keep talking to us. We’re as excited as you are to find out about your plans and ideas, and hope to use blogs and newsletters as one way to share what’s going on.

Just as things have changed since Marvin Gaye released his seminal hit. It is great to see the buildng blocks that Big Local areas are putting in place, as residents consider how to make where they live even better in the future.