Case studies

These case studies are examples of Big Local in action in local areas. They can be used in the media under Creative Commons licence.

To celebrate the announcement of 50 Big Local areas in December 2012, Local Trust have produced nine new case studies, one from each region.

• East Cleveland rural villages Linda Bell, a resident of the East Cleveland Rural Villages is providing access to low cost fresh fruit, other foodstuff and goods to families in the Big Local area.
• East Coseley, Dudley Getting people involved and keeping people in the know through a ‘community chest’ and a newsletter called the Coseley Grapevine.
• Fratton, Portsmouth Using film to communicate and encourage people’s imaginations so that the area feels ‘like a more cared for environment and also a more confident place’.
• Leigh West, Wigan This Big Local area has big plans for improving housing for the whole area, which includes buying properties and then using people locally to make improvements, creating opportunities within the area.
• Podsmead, Gloucester Big Local is about so much more than money in Podsmead, and has started to see the benefit of developing strong partnerships to get people involved in Big Local.
• St Matthew’s In some communities money seems to stick more easily. One hope for the future of St Matthew’s is that instead of money leaking out, Big Local might help to start getting money to ‘stick’ in the area.
• Whitton, Whitehouse and Castle Hill, North West Ipswich In this Big Local area residents are working to reduce doorstep lending and illegal loan sharks to make the area an even better place to live.
• William Morris In this Big Local area in Walthamstow, London, residents have been using creative approaches to get people involved and are working with ‘community champions’ to get people talking.
• Woodlands, Doncaster Residents have been trained in community research techniques and putting their new skills to work in different ways, talking to people locally.

To celebrate the announcement of 50 Big Local areas in February 2012, Local Trust have produced nine new case studies, one from each region.

• Firs and Bromford In this Big Local area, local people have trained in research techniques to find out what other residents think of the area. Through the activities that are now taking place, people are realising that there is widespread passion and commitment to see change happen.
• Clarksfield What makes you proud about where you live? This is one of the questions put to residents by the planning group of the Clarksfield, Greenacres and Littlemoor Big Local area.
• Custom House Bill Perry explains how this Big Local area in Newham has successfully brought together different communities to explore their visions for the future.
• Derwentwater Full of pride and potential, this Big Local area near Gateshead is already building trust, involvement, energy and innovation – thanks to everything from ‘community mapping’ to balloon modelling by the local vicar.
• Dewsbury Moor In this Yorkshire Big Local area residents are taking the lead in running events – they’ve even produced a DVD.
• Lumbertubs How do you create an online platform to connect residents and share information about Big Local? Resident Margaret Pritchard explains.
• Northfleet Here, residents have been setting out their vision for the local area using a unique method of community engagement, and it’s not about the money.
• South Bermondsey Big Local development worker Ann Clayton explains how local people are building on previous initiatives, inspiring and expanding new partnerships and finding additional resources to realise their ambitions.
• St Blazey A Big Bus Tour and a Meet the Funders event have created momentum for Big Local in St Blazey, Tywardreath and Par.
• Warwick Film is the catalyst for getting everyone – from children to elderly people – engaged with Big Local in the Warwick area.
• White City In one of west London’s most deprived neighbourhoods, Big Local is helping to pull together the skills, energy and talents of local people.
• Whitton Psychology student and Whitton, Whitehouse and Castle Hill People’s Panel member Becky Drewitt explains how regular training has helped them to appraise funding proposals and create the right foundations for a closer-knit neighbourhood.