Hello and welcome to our August newsletter.

Wherever you are in England, I hope you have enjoyed the Olympics and are now enjoying the Paralympics as much as we are in London. It’s been great to see some Big Local areas following up the sport theme, for example young people aged 14 to 19 in Kingsbrook and Cauldwell have been enjoying their Big Local community games. Sport is a great way of bringing people together, and I was pleased to see that some partners are part of the Legacy 2013> fund – you can find out more here.

In this newsletter we highlight what happened at recent Big Local learning events and what events are coming up. We provide you with links to some of the fantastic films produced by people in Big Local areas – all films can be viewed via your Big Local pages on our website.

We also showcase some of the great things people are doing in Big Local areas. For example William Morris Big Local in Walthamstow, shows how ‘Big Local Champions’ are driving the Big Local programme forward, Podsmead in Gloucester shows how the Podsmobile is getting the Big Local wheels rolling and in Rastrick, West Yorkshire we find out how people are using their local library to get resident’s involved in Big Local.

Finally, Simrit and Mark from the Local Trust team provide some ideas about good financial management in our latest blog.

Debbie Ladds, chief executive, Local Trust
p.s. I joined twitter this week – do get in touch: @DebbieLadds

We have something for everyone in the learning workshops coming up over the next few months. Do you want to know how Big Local areas can become more vibrant through a better understanding of local economies? Or do you want to explore what helps some community projects last? Want to find out how greener, cleaner spaces can make your area an even better place to live? Or join an action learning group to learn how to use websites and other online communication to get people involved in Big Local? We have lots of information available here on our website.

If you’re looking for inspiration, Big Local in Warwick Ahead launched their latest film at their event ‘Warwick on the beach’ earlier this week. It wouldn’t have been a typical English seaside scene without a punch and judy show, candyfloss, deck chairs, rock and a little bit of rain! In their film residents and stakeholders talk you through their community profile as they describe the issues affecting their area, including doorstop lending, the lack of jobs in the area, mental health and well-being, opportunities for young people and school leavers, the local environment as well as their experience of other regeneration programmes and how Big Local feels different. Click here to see this area starting out at the beginning of their plan.

Clubmoor Big Local in Liverpool also launched their new short film, and used the opportunity to find out from residents what they like about Clubmoor, what they would change if they could and how people could be more involved in the Clubmoor community.

William Morris Big Local in Walthamstow, London, have been busy recruiting and working with what they call Big Local champions. They currently have about 15 people who live in the area, who are supported to go out and talk to other people in the area and have Big Local conversations. They are doing this so that they can speak with as many different people in the community as possible, going to the places where people are including hairdressers and barber shops, rather than just relying on people coming to meetings. Grace Williams who is the volunteer coordinator for William Morris Big Local has said that recruiting people to be Big Local champions is an on-going process but you can start by word of mouth - asking somebody you know ‘do you know somebody who can…’ or approaching somebody with a flyer who is talking to other people in the community is also a good start. You can see the William Morris Big Local champions by going to the William Morris website where the champions also talk about what they’d like their area to be like in 10 years’ time.

Big Local’s learning workshop on 7 August in Wakefield, hosted by Warwick Ahead Big Local area demonstrated that you can have your workshop – and eat it too! Those attending looked at a range of methods of engagement, consultation and decision making and even preparing and eating lunch together played a part in thinking about different ways of involving and getting to know new people.

You can see photos from the day here. A learning report from this event will soon be available on our website. We'll include a link to this on our next learning workshop mail out.

Chris James from Big Local St Matthews Estate in Leicestershire talked on the day about engaging with people by doing something practical. Click here to view.

Other Big Local clips

We have lots of other short video interviews of other people in Big Local areas talking about their ideas and how they’re involved in Big Local, please just visit our YouTube to view.

A community shop in Allum Lane, Borehamwood, run by Leeming and Aycliffe’s locally trusted organisation Community Action Hertsmere, is now the new hub of the area’s Big Local activities. The Big Local community shop provides a place for residents to find out more about Big Local through events such as coffee mornings, and allows people to put their ideas forward and meet other people who are currently involved. A grand re-opening event was held which involved residents, partnership members and the local Mayor.

Big Local in Rastrick have a permanent exhibition in the foyer of their local library.

It’s a great place to display information and leaflets as it has the potential to be seen by many different people in the community and stimulate Big Local conversations.

Other ideas for Big Local exhibitions or information points might be a school or local shop, the post office or even the gym!

People in Podsmead, Gloucester, were invited earlier this month to visit the Podsmobile – a mobile bus bringing a street café, a number of local services as well as activities to the streets of Podsmead. The idea was developed by a team of residents and service providers including NHS Gloucestershire and Gloucester city council. As well as talking to people locally about the strengths of their community and inviting people to share ideas, visitors to the Podsmobile were also able to get advice and information on a wide range of issues including healthy eating, getting active, family activities, housing and money. The findings of the activities over the four day tour will be used to feed into the work of Podsmead Big Local and also a new project funded by the British Heart Foundation working towards improving the health of residents.

Why not organise some sporting activities or games within your community? It’s a great way to get people together, get active and have fun.

Throughout August Big Local Kingsbrook and Cauldwell in Bedford organised Big Local community games for people aged 14 – 19 years, including handball, frisbee, archery, street dance. They also organised free football and basketball sessions with a qualified coach.

East Coseley Big Local organised a 1940s themed night with a fish and chips supper. More than 70 people attended the event in the community centre, dressed up in pinnies and headscarves, glam frocks and period uniforms. Staff from the Black Country Living Museum dressed as characters from the era, volunteered to entertain those attending and there were two local singers performing songs as well as games of bingo. Pictures and more information can be found on the East Coseley blog.

We are keen to share advice, tips and links to support that might help Big Local areas. This week Simrit and Mark offer ideas to support locally trusted organisations with good financial management. You might like to read of their latest blog. You might like to have a read of this latest blog here.

To have your Big Local news included in the next newsletter, please email info@localtrust.org.uk