In the middle of Portsea Island in Portsmouth, Fratton Big Local area covered a densely populated area of a half square mile to the east of the city centre. In 2021 this was home to 15,482 people living mostly in terraced housing (ONS, 2022a; 2023a). The number of residents per square kilometre was 25 times greater than the average for the South East (ONS, 2022b). The area was close to the sea, with a shopping centre, train station, high street, park and a large cemetery.
The area’s western border, Fratton Road, was one of the most polluted streets in Portsmouth (Portsmouth City Council, 2019, p.10), even though a third of households didn’t own a car (ONS, 2023b). Fly-tipping and boarded up shops were common issues and partnership members discussed traders having concerns about security and antisocial behaviour.
Household incomes were £11,000 lower than the South East average and almost a quarter of children lived in relative low-income families (ONS, 2023c; DWP, 2024). More than 1 in 5 residents were born outside the UK and the percentage of households that did not speak English as a main language was more than twice the south-east average (ONS, 2023d; 2022c).
The Fratton Big Local partnership defined a vision of: “improving the health and wellbeing of all residents along with the image and reputation of the area”. The Fratton Big Local partnership comprised 10 voting members and two non-voting members (a ward councillor and a council officer). They worked with wider stakeholders, including the newly formed Fratton Federation (a network for local business owners), to set up the Fratton Traders Association for local retailers in 2014.
From 2015, Fratton Big Local partnership appointed a community development worker and a finance officer post. The partnership held an annual away day and commissioned a human resource management partner to support implementation of their plan and line-manage staff. By working with the same consultant from 2017, the partnership was able to build on past achievements rather than, as the Chair described it, continually “stop-starting”.
Towards the end of the programme, Fratton Big Local supported local networks so they would be able to continue after Big Local. They commissioned a freelance legacy worker and set up Fratton Together to work with stakeholders, respond to community needs and influence the Future High Streets regeneration project. The Fratton Big Local partnership’s legacy plans also focused on refurbishing Kingston Recreation Ground, supporting active networks and ensuring key events were sustainable.
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.
The Fratton Big Local partnership progressed both strands of its vision through hosting and supporting events. From pop-up play sessions and family picnics to a calendar of annual festivals attended by thousands, Fratton Big Local events brought people together while also establishing Fratton as an attractive destination in Portsmouth.
Two particularly popular partnership events took place around Fratton’s previously overlooked high street. Every September, the Family Festival brought performance stages, stalls and 10,000 people to Fratton Road. Later in the year lantern-making workshops with local schools and community groups culminated in a parade down Fratton Road. In 2018, 187 lanterns were made through workshops.
When required, the partnership secured additional funding to deliver events at scale. For instance, Arts Council funding enabled Luke Jerram’s ‘Museum of the Moon’ art installation to come to Fratton during the 2022 Portsmouth-wide We Shine Festival. This attracted over 20,000 visitors to St Mary’s Church. The partnership also supported community groups to run their own events. For example, in 2018, the African Women’s Forum marked what would have been Nelson Mandela’s 100th birthday by bringing people together in the churchyard for traditional South African performances and food.
To raise aspiration, Fratton Big Local partnership brought many strands of work together in an overarching strategy: Fratton Celebrate, Aspire, Nurture (Fratton CAN). Fratton CAN supported projects for diverse groups, nurtured new community groups and celebrated unsung local heroes.
Initiatives included an annual grant that made low or zero-cost space available in Fratton Community Centre and English as a Second Language classes for approximately 100 people. One local shopkeeper received support to set up a community group of Bengali women, who came together to make and sell Bengali snacks that were previously being ordered from London. The income from food sales was used to fund other community activities.
In 2019, the Inspiring Fratton Awards were launched in partnership with the local MP, who grew up in Fratton. Over four years, around 50 community members were honoured. In 2023, a school crossing patrol officer (known locally as the lollipop lady) won the Spirit of Fratton award. She had escorted children across the road on their way to school for over 20 years, listening to pupils’ worries and encouraging reluctant pupils to attend school.
The Fratton Big Local partnership was instrumental in regenerating Kingston Recreation Ground (Kingston Rec), previously a site of antisocial behaviour with a play area that was in need of refurbishment. Over half the cost of refurbishment was met through match-funding, and residents were involved throughout the design and delivery. Consultation showed that residents wanted equipment for all ages, more planting for shade and more seating. Completed in 2018, the new inclusive play space included opportunities for sensory and social play, picnic tables and benches.
By establishing and supporting the Friends of Kingston Rec group, Fratton Big Local partnership empowered local community members to become advocates for the park and take a leading role after Big Local.
In September 2020, a Big Local funded refreshments kiosk opened at Kingston Rec in a repurposed shipping container. The Fratton Big Local partnership worked with a local social entrepreneur to manage the kiosk and train two young people to work there. Known as Fox Box, it acted as a safe outdoor destination for people to visit while Covid-19 restrictions were in place, reducing isolation while deterring vandalism and antisocial behaviour in the park. After the pandemic, responsibility for running the kiosk was taken on by two residents, who received a small grant from Fratton Big Local partnership to establish the kiosk as a resource for the community, along with a rent-free arrangement and business advice.
Fratton Road was a consistent area of focus for the partnership, for example, improving a crossing which was a known accident black spot. The Fratton Big Local partnership developed connections with local traders, ran community events and became involved in the successful bid by Portsmouth City Council for Future High Streets funding. Community consultation leading up to the bid incorporated residents’ voices, while the partnership’s role included ensuring that the bid reflected community needs.
In 2020 Fratton received over £3 million for its high street and, in 2023, Portsmouth City Council bought the local Bridge shopping centre. This unlocked new opportunities for businesses and residents, including units designated for community use, which included the Community Pantry.
Before Covid-19, the Fratton Big Local partnership addressed food poverty through a community meals programme, so were well-positioned to provide support when the pandemic hit. They felt they had a good understanding of where the local needs were, had a good reputation and had good links with Fratton Federation. Setting up a team of volunteers with The Hive charity, the partnership delivered food, collected prescriptions, walked dogs, changed library books and distributed arts and craft materials. In one case, a volunteer was still supporting a resident with their gardening three years later.
Fratton Big Local partnership also organised a window art project, established online choir sessions and delivered virtual live entertainment, including a Christmas show.
For the final three years of Big Local, the partnership built on their previous work around food poverty, developing plans for a sustainable community pantry to supply discounted food. Housed in a unit in the newly purchased shopping centre, the pantry also offered social interaction and wraparound support services. Towards the end of the programme, the partnership was working towards opening the pantry and hoped it would deliver an important legacy for the community. Some voluntary groups intended to run activities there too, including sessions about affordable healthy eating.
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 Fratton Big Local told Local Trust they used their Big Local funding.
Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) (2024) ‘Children in low income families: local area statistics’. (Accessed 15 October 2024)
Office for National Statistics (ONS) (2022a) ‘UK Census 2021: All persons’. (Accessed 17 October 2024)
Office for National Statistics (ONS) (2022b) ‘Census 2021: Population density’. (Accessed 17 October 2024)
Office for National Statistics (ONS) (2022c) ‘UK Census 2021: Main languages, other than English’. (Accessed 17 October 2024)
Office for National Statistics (ONS) (2023a) ‘UK Census 2021: Whole house or bungalow: Terraced’. (Accessed 17 October 2024)
Office for National Statistics (ONS) (2023b) ‘UK Census 2021: No cars or vans in household’. (Accessed 17 October 2024)
Office for National Statistics (ONS) (2023c) ‘Total annual household income estimate: financial year ending 2020’. (Accessed 18 October 2024)
Office for National Statistics (ONS) (2023d) ‘UK Census 2021: Country of Birth: Born outside the UK’. (Accessed 17 October 2024)
Portsmouth City Council (2019). Portsmouth Local Air Quality Plan Outline Business Case. (Accessed 16 September 2024)
