This summer Big Local residents have been organising and commissioning a whole range of fantastic events, including loads of activities for children, young people and families. Take a tour of some highlights and get inspired!

In this newsletter you'll also find resources and events for everyone involved in Big Local. For the first time, we're offering events designed for locally trusted organisations and Big Local partnership members to attend together, which we hope will help you with delivering Big Local in your area.

Below you can also read about our new research project which has the potential to shape the future of community development in the UK. We've just announced the project plan and we look forward to involving a wide range of stakeholders with this work over the coming months.

Rachel Rowney, head of programme delivery, Local Trust

Over the summer many Big Local areas across England have been supporting children and families in their communities. Take a quick tour of some highlights, from a Munch Club in Manchester, to a community fun day supported by a team of youth volunteers in London, and a residential for disadvantaged young people funded by Beechwood, Bidston and Ballantyne Big Local (pictured above). Read more.

We’ve announced our plans for a major new research project that will capture the contemporary value of community development and scope its future.

The project theme is ‘Empowered communities in the 2020s: shaping the future of community development’, and you can view the project plan here.

This exciting opportunity, funded by the Community Development Foundation and the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, has already generated substantial interest and we look forward to involving a wide range of stakeholders with the work over the coming months. Read more.

Dover Big Local have given their town and its tourism industry a massive boost by bringing together partners - including English Heritage, Dover District Council and Dover Town Council -  to support and co-fund a major new co-ordinated tourism project called Destination Dover. Read more.

The Big Lottery Fund's Celebrate! fund offers grants of between £300 and £10,000 for events or activities that will bring people together and celebrate what makes their local community special. Apply now.

The booklet What’s happening in Big Local? gives a quick overview of what Big Local is all about: really useful at first meetings with people you’d like to work with. You can also attach it as a PDF when sending emails. Order print copies or download a PDF.

We have two Facebook groups where you can connect and share ideas, learning and experience. Working on Big Local is for people who do work on Big Local, including workers, locally trusted organisations and volunteers. Big Local research group is for people living and working in Big Local areas who are interested in research and for researchers interested in working with Big Local communities.

Our website library has advice and how-to guides on everything from creating websites and running events, to VAT guidance and completing Big Local plan reviews.

Chairs action learning group: Explore the task of chairing a partnership, develop new skills, and build a wider support network of other Big Local chairs and co-chairs by joining this series of action learning meetings. Starts Thursday 15 September, in York. Read more.

Investing in workers: Share and hear experiences and advice about using workers in Big Local (both employed and sub contracted). Friday 23 September, in London. Read more.

Community health and wellbeing: Find out how Heath Big Local are working with local hospices, visit their Palliative Care Hub, and hear from other Big Local areas about their health and wellbeing projects. Friday 28 October, in Uttoxeter. Read more.

Events for locally trusted organisations and partnerships: At these events Big Local partnerships and locally trusted organisations in Big Local areas can come together to network with each other, share learning and experiences, and receive support and guidance to carry out their roles. Choice of two dates: Friday 25 November, in London and Wednesday 7 December, in Sheffield.

All events are free to attend. For residents in Big Local areas, we provide financial support for travel, childcare and other care costs. Read more.

We'll be announcing a full 2016-17 events calendar in October. Watch this space!

Researchers at the Universities of Liverpool and Lancaster (LiLaC) are organising a public event to explore what happens when communities take action together to improve their local areas.

The event is Tuesday 8 November, in Salford, 12 noon - 3.30pm and there are up to 40 audience places available for residents and practitioners involved in community empowerment initiatives who would like to put questions to the panel.

More information is available here, and to book a place or if you have any questions please contact Mandy Ellison on 0151 794 4314 or email m.ellison@liverpool.ac.uk.

If you cannot be there on the day, you can still participate by tweeting your interest and questions – @LilacHEquity #CommunitiesinControl.