Levelling up

Social infrastructure unites keynote speakers 

Andy Burnham and Andy Haldane joined Local Trust in Manchester for our 'Levelling up communities: What's the evidence?' conference in May. The event brought together expert speakers and panellists to examine how policy makers can develop meaningful evidence to underpin policies to improve social capital and infrastructure. Our chief exec, Matt Leach, offers his top takeaways in this post-conference blog.

Below: Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, talks to Andy Haldane, RSA, before giving his keynote address at the conference.

Community action

What grows and sustains a network of community volunteers?

Volunteers Week 1-7 June: brand new research with Big Local areas uncovers how communities can develop a strong base of active volunteers and motivate residents to come forward.  

Community Power podcast

Residents take on health inequality, youth action and food 

Compelling interviews shed light on how residents respond when they are entrusted with long-term funding and the power to take decisions in Solihull, Brinnington and Hounslow.

'Left behind' neighbourhoods

Inquiry launched - click to take part

The four-part inquiry will assess the extent to which the government’s levelling up policy programme aligns with the needs and aspirations of people living in ‘Ieft behind’ areas. 

Resident-led funding

How micro grants release community power

Our latest report with IVAR, the Institute for Voluntary Action Research, explores how community grants can help get new ideas off the ground, enhance existing provision, bring people together and make areas better places to live.

Big Local 

Make it Happen campaign launches for Big Local areas

If you’re part of a Big Local partnership, you can sign up for our new Make it Happen newsletter and discover all the latest support offers, resources and events as part of the Make it Happen campaign.

Below: The Band of Her Majesty's Royal Marines Portsmouth (Royal Band) parades through the Church Hill Big Local area as a tribute to the community's response to the pandemic, and to mark the Platinum Jubilee.