Although March 2026 marks the formal conclusion of the Big Local programme, the impact of the initiative will continue to grow in communities across England. Over the past decade and a half, thousands of residents, volunteers, local businesses and community groups have taken part in the programme. 150 communities were each given control of £1m in long-term funding to improve their areas. Big Local have supported local businesses, invested in young people, improved health and wellbeing and built lasting community hubs.

Now, more than a hundred legacy bodies established by dedicated local residents will continue delivering valued projects and services in their neighbourhoods. In Sunderland, Chair of 3 Together Big Local, Jacky Worthington shares the success of their work and how it’s continuing beyond the Big Local programme:

https://yorkshiretimes.co.uk/article.php?id=91866&editorpreview=true&rnd=0.5983910278317198

Case Study in Sunderland: 3 Together Big Local – a legacy for the whole community.

“The 3Together Big Local project brought together volunteers from 3 areas within the Hetton le Hole district all suffering from social deprivation. Over the course of the 12 years, the group provided help and support to all sections of the community especially during the cost-of-living crisis and throughout the Covid epidemic. It was obvious that two particular areas needed attention, the lack of affordable transport and the provision of a new purpose built community centre in an area where there were no facilities.

“The Big Local funding was used to boost the availability of community run mini-buses based at Easington Lane Community Access Point (ELCAP) and towards the cost of a new community building in Moorsley to be run by local volunteers. These two projects continue to operate successfully and form the legacy of 3Together Big Local, the buses providing access to local groups and individuals across the region for leisure trips out and regular shopping and the community building, The Hut runs activities for all ages and abilities, for the benefit of health & wellbeing, social cohesion and education."

Improving lives in communities across England

Rachel Rowney, CEO of Local Trust, who has been involved since the programme’s early days, said: “The Big Local programme was a unique experiment. Placing funding and decision-making directly in the hands of communities, on this scale, had never been tried before. The results, as 3 Together shows, are a testament to the power of those people who stepped up and volunteered. If you trust residents with the tools they need, they will build better communities.

“Throughout England, in some of the most disadvantaged areas, thousands of residents have developed the confidence, skills and networks to improve their neighbourhoods. Crucially these skills won’t be lost and, through the over one hundred legacy bodies, will continue to make a difference to their communities long after the programme ends.”

More information on 3 Together Big Local can be found here.

A decade and a half of resident-led change

Launched in 2010, Big Local was a bold experiment: 150 communities were each entrusted with £1 million in long-term, flexible funding, making it the largest single-purpose National Lottery endowment ever awarded. Unlike traditional grants overseen by Westminster or local councils, Big Local placed decisions and funding directly in the hands of residents, giving them 10-15 years to plan, invest and deliver projects that mattered most to their community.

Over the past 15 years, Big Local residents have delivered an extraordinary range of initiatives shaped by local priorities. These include:
Major community events — from marathons to festivals — that brought people together.
Investing in community infrastructure such as playgrounds, sports facilities and refurbishing old buildings as well as constructing new ones.
Supportive programmes helping residents into work, training or education.
Crisis response, quickly providing resources to residents during COVID-19 and helping with the rising cost of living.
Projects to improve green spaces, and a pioneering community-owned wind turbine and solar farm.