Local Trust

21/08/2026

What’s your neighbourhood’s social capital score?

Our research with Demos has shown that social capital - the relationships, networks and support that connect people - plays a vital role in improving social and economic outcomes in neighbourhoods.

That's why we're pleased to share the Social Capital Score - a neighbourhood-level map of social capital across every Lower Layer Super Output Area (LSOA) in England, developed by 3ni and Oxford Consultants for Social Inclusion.

The score gives policymakers, funders and communities a new way to understand where social capital is strongest, where it is weakest, and where support may be needed most.

Find out more about how the score was developed, the methodology behind it, and how to access the data: https://bit.ly/4xRBHaM

19/08/2026

As universities across the country face funding pressures, it’s important to recognise the role they play beyond education.

Universities are being increasingly hailed as important civic institutions, with the potential to support the places and communities they serve. But building meaningful partnerships with communities can be difficult to achieve.

‘Progress happens at the speed of trust’, written by Dr Al Mathers and Dr Bryony Vince-Myers in partnership with Local Trust, explores what becomes possible when university-community partnerships are given the time and space to grow. The research shows how relationships built on trust can help communities identify local priorities, develop solutions and influence decision-making.

See below to explore four case studies of university-community partnerships, what they achieved, and the lessons that emerged along the way 👇

Read the full report: https://bit.ly/4xNrFaH

18/08/2026

How can you empower young people to have a meaningful say in the decisions that shape their communities?

Across many Big Local areas, supporting children and young people was a key priority. Alongside investing in youth services, partnerships recognised the importance of giving young people opportunities to influence decisions, develop leadership skills and play an active role in shaping their neighbourhoods.

With Big Local designed as a time-limited programme, many Big Local groups saw young people as the next generation of community leaders. By supporting young people to shape decisions and take on leadership roles, they hoped to leave behind a lasting legacy of volunteering and grassroots leadership.

Swipe to explore practical lessons from Big Local on how communities can involve young people in local decision-making, and read the full article below: https://bit.ly/4cqpCRC

17/08/2026

No two Big Local areas tell the same story.

Over more than a decade, 150 Big Local areas received £1m each, but they all followed their own path, shaped by local priorities and circumstances.

The Learning from Big Local website brings together summaries from every area, documenting their challenges, achievements, and lessons learned along the way.

Whether you're interested in learning more about your nearest Big Local, or exploring ideas that could help your own community, it's a chance to see what long-term, resident-led funding can make possible.

Explore the area summaries here: https://bit.ly/4hEiSDc

12/08/2026

“It’s time to end the revolving door of political leadership, and work with young people as equal partners to provide the real change and opportunities they need, in the places they call home.”

Our new Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, has inherited the largest growth in the rate of young people not in education, employment or training (NEET) since 2014. This issue is a clear priority for the country, and the government have made many promising announcements outlining different youth initiatives.

However, the government must ensure these initiatives are working well together and take on holistic planning to ensure outcomes are improved for children and young people in every neighbourhood.

Furthermore, for youth policy to make a real impact, it should make clear provision at the neighbourhood level, alongside support and investment for communities to take a leading role in their future.

In this blog, our policy and parliamentary officer, Natasha Meldrum, reflects on the government’s youth policy and makes the case for communities to take more control. Read it here: https://bit.ly/4fTH8A4

Only two years after being elected by a landslide majority, The Labour Party has a new leader. Andy Burnham is now our seventh Prime Minister of the past ten years, bringing in Lucy Powell as our tenth Secretary of State for Education over the same period.

11/08/2026

With Big Local now closed, one question we get asked frequently is: what would we do differently?

Running a long-term, resident-led funding programme has taught us valuable lessons about what works, what doesn’t and what could be improved.

For anyone looking to deliver similar programmes, we‘re sharing tried and tested approaches you can build on, so you don’t have to start from scratch.

In our latest blog, our head of programmes, Meg Falck, shares five key lessons that could help shape future community-led funding programmes.

🎥 Watch the video below for the first lesson, then read the blog for all five: https://bit.ly/4zbHOrW

10/08/2026

Over more than a decade of evidence gathering, Big Local revealed what helps communities to create lasting change:

• long-term investment
• local control over decisions
• time to build trust and relationships
• support to grow confidence and leadership.

Learning from Big Local brings together this evidence from 150 communities across England - not just on what changed, but how change happened.

You’ll find Q&A articles that explore some of the key questions about how Big Local worked in practice, deep diving into the programme's processes, challenges, successes and lessons. If you're interested in the future of community-led change, there's plenty to discover on Learning from Big Local: https://bit.ly/4g12j1T

06/08/2026

By 2065, one in four people in England and Wales will be aged 65 or over.

As our population ages, it becomes imperative for us to find ways to help older people stay connected to their communities.

In recent years, public services have increasingly moved online, while funding cuts have reduced public transport and local services in some areas. These changes have a disproportionate impact on older residents, who are more likely to experience digital exclusion and rely on public transport to access healthcare and other essential services.

Supporting older people was a priority for many Big Local areas. By speaking with older residents through community events and activities, Big Local groups identified barriers that made it harder for people to access local spaces, services and support - including a lack of transport.

Swipe through to see how Big Local areas responded, and read the full article here: https://bit.ly/4z26mDN

05/08/2026

Are you based in the North East and want a greater say in the decisions that shape your local area?

We’ve developed a one-day programme with the Institute for Collective Place Leadership at Teesside University for residents and community members from across the North East who want to play a stronger role in their neighbourhoods, communities, and local democracy.

The programme, ‘Resident Voice and Local Power’ aims to create a supportive space for residents to build confidence, connect with others, and better understand how local systems, organisations, and decision-making processes work.

Learn more and register here: https://bit.ly/4aesvny

Redhills Durham Darlington Borough Council Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council Groundwork NE & Cumbria

04/08/2026

How can you incentivise volunteering?

Little Hulton Big Local found a simple but ingenious answer - they created their own local currency.

The Big Local group consulted with the residents to create their first plan in 2014, identifying clear priorities: improve community spaces, create opportunities for young people, and support residents' employment and wellbeing.

To make that happen, they needed volunteers.

The partnership found creative ways to encourage people to get involved – one of which was the introduction of the Little Hulton Pound.

Volunteers earned one Little Hulton Pound for every five hours they gave to the community, which they could spend with local businesses. It was a simple idea that recognised residents' contributions, rewarded volunteering and strengthened community participation.

From encouraging volunteering to supporting the development of one of Salford's greenest buildings, CommUNITY Little Hulton pavilion, discover the impact of Little Hulton Big Local: https://bit.ly/4pUnrvb