• Programmes

    Programmes

    A series of projects sharing what worked in the Big Local programme and why, and supporting the Big Local legacy in the communities that were involved.

    Beacon areas

    Supporting connections between community organisations continuing resident-led action beyond Big Local

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    Health inequalities

    Supporting community-led health and wellbeing approaches to tackle health inequalities

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    Learning and events

    Explore community development learning programmes and events

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  • News and blogs

    News and blogs

    The latest news and blogs from Local Trust, Big Local and beyond, exploring community power and resident-led change

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    News

    The latest news and announcements from Local Trust

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    Blogs

    Ideas and insights about Big Local and the impact of community-led change

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Evidence and insights

Our work demonstrates the value of long-term, unconditional, resident-led funding, drawing on learning from delivering the Big Local programme to promote a wider transformation in the way policymakers, funders and others engage with communities and place.

Policy publications

research
Making the most of it: unitarisation, hyperlocal democratic renewal and community empowerment

This report by IPPR North explores how unitarisation enables democratic renewal...
Local economies
research
Community buildings: strong foundations for renewal

Using evidence from Big Local, this report shows how long-term investment in community-run buildings provides essential infrastructure for neighbourhood renewal.
Spaces and services
research
Civic rewilding: Applying the lessons from Big Local

This report tells the story of the Big Local programme. Did it work? And what does it teach us about the practice of reviving civic life?
Environment

Find more reports

Learning from Big Local

In January 2026, we launched a new website dedicated to sharing learning, research and stories from the Big Local programme. This site will remain after Local Trust closes.

Explore Learning from Big Local

You can also visit Our Bigger Story – an innovative, multimedia study following the journey of 15 Big Local areas over 10 years.

Community Needs Index

The Community Needs Index is a quantitative, evidence-based measure
that captures the social infrastructure challenges faced in deprived
communities.

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Publication series

 
‘Left behind’ neighbourhoods

Areas which face the double disadvantage of high deprivation and a lack of social infrastructure.
A crowd of people in a community hub, a key example of social infrastructure
What is social infrastructure?

The physical spaces and social networks that help a community thrive.

The Community Wealth Fund

Local Trust was a founding member of the successful campaign to secure dormant assets funding for a Community Wealth Fund. Explore the history of the campaign and why it’s important.

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