As the Big Local programme enters its final phase, Angus McCabe, Senior Research Fellow at the Third Sector Research Centre, explores what Big Local areas are leaving behind - and what they are taking with them into the future.
Community action during the pandemic has been further enhanced in areas as a result of Big Local support and funding, the latest report from the Our Bigger Story evaluation by the Third Sector Research Centre (TSRC) suggests. Mandy Wilson and Angus McCabe from TSRC take a closer look.
Marking the halfway point of the Big Local programme, Angus McCabe from Our Bigger Story reflects on the change that has taken place in communities across the country and considers the factors that have contributed to or hindered change happening.
Our Bigger Story, the multi-media evaluation of Big Local, has been exploring what 15 areas think resident-led and community leadership looks like on the ground.
The latest research has revealed how residents involved in Big Local are navigating a range of “balancing acts” to achieve the change they want to see.
“Our Bigger Story: The first chapter” is a summary report for the first year of Our Bigger Story, which is the multimedia evaluation of Big Local. Over 2015-2016 we have been recording, and training local residents to record, change in 15 Big Local areas across England using films, podcasts and other media as well as interviewing partnership members, volunteers and local residents, and delivery agencies. You can view the Our Bigger Story films on Vimeo, on YouTube, or via the Our Bigger Story website.