Barrowcliff
Key points
- The flagship project, a play park, was designed by local children and widely used by residents from its opening.
- The grants scheme funded more than 150 projects, many of which brought residents together through activities that would have otherwise been unaffordable.
- Collaboration with community groups and external agencies meant that the partnership could identify and respond to local needs.
About the Big Local area
The Barrowcliff Big Local area covered a small housing estate on a hill to the north of Scarborough, characterised by its surrounding green space and views over the town. It had a population of 3,659 people in 2021 (ONS, 2022a). The area was served by a small parade of shops, a church and church hall, a primary school and a community centre on the edge of the estate. There was also a county council children’s centre, initially used by Big Local, but later access to the public was restricted.
Barrowcliff residents faced a range of complex issues. For example, double the proportion of residents were not in employment compared to the wider North Yorkshire region (ONS, 2022b). Over a quarter of local children (aged 0–19) were living in low-income households (DWP, 2024), and residents were experiencing high levels of poor physical and mental health (MHCLG, 2019).
How the Big Local area approached delivery
Several attempts were made to form a Big Local partnership in the early years of the programme. Barrowcliff residents involved in the first two attempts found the resident-led approach challenging and did not feel able to progress Big Local themselves. On the third try, a resident-led body was formed chaired by two leading residents, one of whom was a local councillor. The Barrowcliff partnership, known as the Steering Group, was made up of residents and representatives from local agencies. A community regeneration worker (who was seconded from the Scarborough Borough Council) also supported the partnership throughout its Big Local journey.
Barrowcliff’s 2014 Big Local plan reflected feedback from consultations with the community and outlined five key areas of focus. These were parks and play areas; facilities and activities for all ages; education, jobs, and ambition; healthy lifestyles and sports activities; and neighbourhood safety and a cleaner environment.
These five priorities remained broadly the same through later plans, with commitment to fostering civic pride and a greater sense of neighbourhood belonging becoming more significant from 2020.
The partnership structured their approach around giving residents opportunities to air their feelings about the estate. They hosted a Monday Morning Club where people could raise concerns and propose projects in advance of monthly partnership meetings, and occasionally did door-to-door research to gather information around specific issues. This approach, supplemented with insight from the local councillor within the partnership, ensured that the partnership remained in tune with local needs and could provide speedy responses to grant applications. At the start of the Covid-19 lockdowns, weekly Zoom calls (referred to as ‘brew with the crew’) were established to give residents and agencies a space to discuss local needs and coordinate plans.
The partnership delivered activities through community grants, commissioned projects, and voluntary activity. It also provided a channel for enhanced partnership working between agencies and the community. The partnership felt that Big Local was seen by other organisations as a galvanising power which supported activities that improved the area, and the partnership was able to get buy-in across local groups and organisations because it was not in competition for resources.
Barrowcliff Big Local partnership’s approach was driven by a core group, who participated in Local Trust’s networking opportunities. Their experience of meeting others who shared their ideas about resident-led change led them to play a leading role in the creation of a national legacy network for Big Local residents, Amazing Communities Together.
A Big Local partnership was a group made up of at least eight people that guided the overall direction of delivery in a Big Local area.
A Big Local Plan set out what changes the partnership planned to make, how they planned to deliver on this and how funds were to be allocated. It was written for themselves, their community and Local Trust, as a guide and action plan.
What the Big Local area did
Community assets and spaces
Creating a play park to bring residents together
Residents had wanted a play area for children for many years. A new play park was therefore an early and ambitious flagship project in the Barrowcliff partnership’s 2014 Big Local plan. With support from Groundwork – their locally trusted organisation (LTO) at the time – and local agencies, the partnership created a state-of-the-art play facility, designed by local children and parents. Big Local funding covered the majority of the project costs, with additional donations from local partner agencies. Scarborough Borough Council took on the maintenance of the facility and committed to continue maintenance responsibilities beyond the life of Big Local.
The creation of the play park within the first two years of the Big Local programme helped the partnership, and residents, build confidence that they could create change in the estate. The partnership felt that the park was not only well used, but that it contributed to social cohesion through connecting parents from across the estate while their children played.
A locally trusted organisation (LTO) was the organisation chosen by people in a Big Local area or the partnership to administer and account for funding, and/or deliver activities or services on behalf of a partnership. Areas might have worked with more than one locally trusted organisation depending on the plan and the skills and resources required.
Local economy
Improving residents’ access to training and jobs
The Barrowcliff Big Local partnership recognised that finances, health, and confidence created barriers to employment for some residents. As such, Big Local funding was allocated to several projects to support wellbeing and help people into work.
One project offered work experience with a social housing provider and free access to construction skills certification and was so successful that it ran three times. Another was a free health project, for which a nearby fitness facility was commissioned. Local exercise and support were provided for each group as they went through the programme, with 40 participants in the first group. Residents lost weight and improved their health and self-confidence, with some building the confidence to find employment.
Mental health was also important in helping people seek employment. In 2017, the partnership commissioned Scarborough Jobmatch to do door-to-door research to identify local needs around training and employment. The study highlighted that many residents experiencing anxiety and mental ill health were falling through the gaps of existing services, so, the following year, the partnership allocated funds to the Sparks project. Sparks developed a weekly programme of wellbeing and life skills, as well as confidence-building, life coaching, therapeutic support, and advocacy for individuals. In 2020, Sparks reported that nine residents had started work, 15 had completed training, and three had started university courses.
Investing in young people
Engaging children in activities to develop their aspirations
Big Local funding was invested in creating opportunities for children and young people in Barrowcliff. This funded activities at the community centre, supported woodland survival days and subsidised school trips. The partnership built a close relationship with the local primary school, which ran the Barrowcliff Opportunities Programme (BOP) with a grant from Big Local. The programme aimed to develop young people’s aspirations through a range of activities and clubs, all with the intention of engaging and inspiring a broader range of pupils. Activities included a forest school, subsidised residential trips, and developing entrepreneurial skills.
Working collaboratively
Working with others to meet local needs
The partnership was well-connected with other organisations in Barrowcliff, such as the residents’ association, social landlords, and Scarborough Borough Council. Some of these stakeholders reported being proud to be involved in a strong and proactive network of local people.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, these relationships enabled a quick response to emerging community needs, which included a grant to the local primary school enabling universal free school meals. From here, ensuring that residents had enough to eat continued to be a key part of Barrowcliff’s strategy. Meals were provided at the community centre bingo sessions and funding was allocated for a breakfast club for adults and children at the local church.
In 2021, the partnership involved the community and its partners – including the local school, housing providers, the borough council, and community groups – in planning and delivering a community clean-up. Skips were placed around the area, with a collection service available on request. Litter-picks took place, electrical goods were recycled, streets were swept, and public grassed areas cut back. The clean-up involved the community and agencies in the planning process – with a council officer remarking on its effectiveness.
Place-based pride and connection
Creating a sense of belonging through community spaces
One guiding principle for the Barrowcliff Big Local partnership was to support happiness and a sense of belonging in the community. They achieved this through organising events and engaging a wide range of residents in activities – including bingo sessions, community dog shows, and annual summer galas with free food and activities.
Over 10 years, more than 80 small grants and 70 ‘big pot’ grants were approved. Small grants helped residents put their ideas into action, such as through the volunteer-led ‘Christmas Together’ events, which provided a full day of festive activities free of charge. Larger grants were used to commission health and wellbeing, training and enterprise, and family support projects.
Big Local funding and an effective relationship with the local community centre, led to an improved, better used, and more sustainable community space. Big Local funding was invested in a new heating system and LED lights (reducing utility bills), and a new kitchen extension (which supported cooking classes, as well as a free café). The well used and financially viable community space represented a key part of the legacy for Barrowcliff Big Local.
How the Big Local area spent their funding
Each Big Local area received approximately £1.2 million (ranging from £1.199 mil to 1.209 mil) to spend over 10–15 years, depending on how much additional funding they accessed from Local Trust to address specific needs. For example, to bring people together at the start of the programme or to access training and support. This has been categorised for areas and at the programme level based on reports received from areas.
Partnerships chose their own priorities and categories for reporting, and were encouraged to use broad categories so they could use the funding flexibly. All areas spent a significant amount of money on ‘Big Local delivery costs’ such as workers’ salaries, stationery and IT equipment. You can find out more about programme level spend in this article. This is how Barrowcliff Big Local told Local Trust they used their Big Local funding.
References
Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) (2024) ‘Children in low income families: local area statistics’. (Accessed 27 November 2024)
Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (MHCLG) (2019) ‘English indices of deprivation 2019: Health deprivation and disability domain’. (Accessed 27 November 2024)
Office for National Statistics (ONS) (2022a) ‘UK Census 2021: All persons’. (Accessed 27 November 2024)
Office for National Statistics (ONS) (2022b) ‘UK Census 2021: Economic activity status, England and Wales’. (Accessed 27 November 2024)