Leecliffe Big Local was named from a combination of Leeming Road and Aycliffe Road, two main roads in North Borehamwood, a London commuter town in southern Hertfordshire with a rich history of film production. In 2018 the partnership expanded the Leecliffe Big Local boundaries to align with local wards, Cowley Hill and Brook Meadow, as it was felt the initial boundaries ‘divided an already divided town’.
Leecliffe Big Local was one of the larger Big Local areas, and home to over 18,000 people in 2021 (ONS, 2022). There were pockets of deprivation within the area, with some households amongst the 10% most deprived in England (MHCLG, 2019). Over a third of residents were social renters, double the percentage in the east of England (ONS, 2023a). Lone-parent households accounted for a quarter of all households with dependent children (ONS, 2024). Pensioners living alone made up 70 per cent of pensioner households (ONS, 2023b), and nearly half of over 65s in the area reported bad or very bad health (ONS, 2023c; 2023d).
Although surrounded by green spaces and parks, Leecliffe Big Local partnership reflected that the area faced challenges. This included pockets of deprivation and limited affordable family and youth activities, in some cases leading to anti-social behaviour. A lack of daytime population due to commuting patterns left some residents isolated for most of the week. The area had some shopping parades, food banks, and community support services, yet community consultation showed that these were not fully utilised due to poor communication and high costs.
The Leecliffe Big Local partnership consisted of eight to 15 voting members. These members either lived, worked or had a strong connection to the community, or had specialist knowledge or expertise that could help deliver the Leecliffe Big Local plan. The partnership took pride in retaining some original members who consistently influenced Big Local Leecliffe’s design, values, and investment strategy. This ensured that lessons learned were shared over the years. Many activities were delivered initially by partnership members themselves or local organisations. Over time, limitations in the capacity and time of partnership members led them to use Big Local funding for paid workers to support implementing the partnership’s vision. These included community development officers to build local networks and connections, a volunteer coordinator to engage with residents and signpost them to Big Local projects, and an administrator.
The Leecliffe Big Local partnership conducted multiple community consultations over the course of the programme, using visual questionnaires, interviews with 40 organisations, public drop-in sessions, and community events. Residents voted on their priorities which were followed up in meetings with local stakeholders to identify overlaps with existing activities and locate gaps. Key priorities emerged, including tackling isolation and loneliness, supporting families, children, and young people, and enhancing health and wellbeing, including improvements to the physical environment.
For two years early in the programme, the partnership was without a Locally Trusted Organisation (LTO) due to interpersonal challenges with their initial LTO. The partnership felt this delayed the progression of plans in the Big Local area. From 2015, the partnership was supported by a new LTO, now called Clarion Futures, who aligned with their values, assisted project delivery and identified additional funding opportunities.
The Leecliffe Big Local partnership valued its relationships with local people, businesses, and community groups, to design and deliver plans that reflected local priorities. However, over time, the partnership shifted its approach. Initially they provided small pots of funding which local groups and organisations could access to run activities and events in line with community-identified priorities. On reflection, they found that continuous funding was limiting the potential for longer-term, self-sustaining initiatives. Instead, a revised model of larger investments in projects and activities supported organisations to gather evidence of their impact, enabling them to demonstrate their value and secure long-term funding, increasing sustainability.
As the Big Local programme came to an end, the Leecliffe Big Local partnership published an evaluation and story of their achievements and learning. They felt the new BMX track funded by Leecliffe Big Local would provide an important visible legacy in the area. Members were proudest of how their projects had created community connections that may otherwise not have happened, or had met the needs of residents, particularly young people, that were not previously being met.
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 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.
Many Big Local partnerships funded workers to support the delivery of Big Local. They were paid individuals, as opposed to those who volunteered their time. They were different from Big Local reps and advisors, who were appointed and paid by Local Trust.
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.
Concerns about poor mental health and low confidence among young people, particularly during the transition from primary to secondary school and after Covid-19, became increasingly important for the Leecliffe Big Local partnership. Families reported older children experiencing isolation and social anxiety, prompting the Leecliffe Big Local partnership to focus on youth-centred activities.
In 2018, the partnership invested in Flip Theatre, which offered interactive role-play workshops in schools to help young people with anger and mental health issues to improve their self-worth and self-esteem. The Phoenix Mental Health and Wellbeing Programme, also supported by Leecliffe Big Local in 2022, provided early interventions that raised awareness of mental health issues, helped parents and schools identify support needs, and facilitated smoother transitions between school stages. School staff expressed that, without funding from Leecliffe Big Local, they couldn’t have implemented such programmes, which helped gather evidence of their impact for potential future funders.
The partnership also made significant investments in educational support for young people. When the pandemic disrupted educational progress and highlighted unequal access to technology, the partnership stepped in to help. Leecliffe Big Local provided computers for online learning and introduced additional tutoring programs for pupils struggling with schoolwork in the final years of primary education.
Additionally, Veg Fest, an initiative funded by Leecliffe Big Local and run by Groundwork East later in the Big Local programme, helped primary schools establish food growing opportunities and promote healthy eating. These initiatives boosted educational outcomes, developed good relationships with schools and supported students during challenging times.
In consultation with residents, the partnership identified greater provision of activities for older children as a key priority, to reduce anti-social behaviour and to address unsafe biking in the street. This was an issue reported by the community as affecting both young people and residents more broadly.
Two evening groups for young people were successfully established later in the Big Local programme through the Leecliffe Big Local partnership’s allocation of funds and paid workers. Delivered collaboratively with local organisations, The Friday Night Project offered sports-related activities, and the Wednesday Night Project drama and theatre-related activities. The evening clubs provided young people aged 11+ with a safe space to meet and hang out, taking part in and requesting activities they were interested in. They also provided access to experienced youth workers, coaches and signposting to relevant support services. With consistent and large attendance numbers (over 100 in the Friday night club), including many neurodiverse young people who often struggled to find inclusive activities, the youth clubs were valued in the community.
Young people produced a video to help raise funding for the clubs following pilot periods funded by Leecliffe Big Local. This fundraising was successful, with both clubs accessing grants to ensure the future of Wednesday and Friday Night Projects.
To tackle the issue of dangerous biking, the partnership invested in organised BMX activities. For example, in the early years of the programme Hayes Hawks BMX club held BMX taster days and a trip to Olympic Velo Park in Stratford. This investment provided the Leecliffe Big Local partnership with the groundwork and evidence needed to work with Hertsmere Borough Council to fund the instalment of a BMX track and establish a permanent BMX bike club in Meadow Park. The new track was launched alongside an event celebrating 13 years of Big Local in Leecliffe, in 2025. Alongside some supplementary funding, Hertsmere Borough Council also agreed to carry out future maintenance on the BMX Track, leaving a sustainable legacy beyond Big Local.
Through extensive community consultation, the Leecliffe Big Local partnership identified a lack of health and wellbeing activities for families and children. Activity options that did exist were not well known or were not free at the point of access. In particular, families expressed that they wanted activities that parents/carers and children could attend together.
Through a combination of paid worker support, funds and advice from the partnership, experienced local organisations delivered children- and youth-focused events and activities, which proved to be one of Leecliffe Big Local’s most successful areas of community engagement.
This included educational activities such as ‘Arty Attic’, a club which encouraged adults and children to spend less time using mobile devices and to develop new skills. The arts club saw repeat attendance and the development of relationships across families. Many fathers and grandparents attended with children and commented on the value of having something to do together. The arts environment also created safe inclusive spaces where families and children with specific needs such as neurodivergence or social anxiety, could come and express themselves.
The Leecliffe Big Local partnership allocated funding to, and worked closely with, local organisations such as XPG Events and Groundwork East to deliver a wide range of educational and physical activities that addressed a clear community need for engaging, family-friendly opportunities. No or low cost activities were available such as cooking classes, circus skills workshops, football challenges, den building, orienteering, natural arts and crafts, and storytelling. Initiatives such as ‘Wellies in the Woods’ and wildlife scavenger and bug hunts brought pre-school children and their parents together in nature, fostering improved health, wellbeing, and awareness of cost-free ventures. They empowered families to explore their surroundings and gain a deeper understanding of what was on offer in the local area.
Family fun days, local park events like pumpkin carving sessions and Queen’s Jubilee celebrations, and activities in sports, dance, fitness, and athletics played a role in connecting families and enhancing physical health. Coach trips and outings to destinations such as Brighton Beach, Southend Beach, and a junior driving course offered further opportunities for families to engage with one another and with their community. Collectively, these initiatives not only expanded the offer of locally available activities for residents but also contributed to building a more connected, resilient, and active community.
The Leecliffe Big Local partnership prioritised tackling loneliness and isolation, recognising that Borehamwood’s position as a commuter town often meant minimal community presence. Many older residents lived alone and lacked opportunities to come together. The partnership started by investing funding in lunch clubs in the early years of Big Local, which evolved into ‘Chatter Table’, a new social group, held at St Michael’s & All Angels Church.
Chatter Table went from strength to strength as more volunteers and local partners became involved. This provided a space where residents could come together to have tea, get hot food, connect and take part in social activities. It also enabled the development of friendships and new activities which they learned about through attending. Big Local funding was used to hire the venue, provide refreshments and provide a dedicated community development worker to support the project’s growth. The volunteers who supported Chatter Table developed their skills over time, and were able to take over the running of the sessions.
The growth of Chatter Table catalysed St Michael’s & All Angels Church into becoming a social hub. As more people, funders and community partners became aware of the space, more activities were delivered there, offering more opportunities for residents to connect and hear about other opportunities in the community. It also enabled the hub to operate as a warm space, providing hot meals to those attending in the winter months.
In January 2023 Chatter Table hosted Hertsmere MP and Deputy Prime Minister at the time, Oliver Dowden, for a special Chatter Tables event. A fish and chip lunch was served, and residents shared the issues they were facing in the local area. The partnership also went on to secure additional funding from the Captain Tom Foundation.
During community consultation activities, the idea of adding planters and flowerbeds at the corner of Aycliffe Road and Leeming Road was proposed, to make the area more welcoming and visually appealing. The partnership allocated Big Local funds to match statutory funding to repair existing planters and flowerbeds, and organised volunteers through various engagement activities and networks to plant and maintain them. Volunteers included participants from Chatter Tables, local Special Educational Needs (SEN) schools, and the Adult Day Care Centre.
Additionally, Hertsmere Borough Council agreed to fund the ongoing maintenance of the planters, ensuring that volunteers can continue their efforts after the Big Local initiative comes to an end. The project strengthened volunteer networks and connections with less connected residents within the Leecliffe Big Local area and instilled a sense of community pride.
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 Leecliffe (Leeming and Aycliffe) Big Local told Local Trust they used their Big Local funding.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) (2019) ‘English Indices of Multiple Deprivation 2019 – Income Score’. Available at: gov.uk/government/statistics/english-indices-of-deprivation-2019 (Accessed 24 March 2025)
Office for National Statistics (ONS) (2022) ‘UK Census 2021: All persons’. Available at: ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/populationandmigration/populationestimates/datasets/populationandhouseholdestimatesenglandandwalescensus2021 (Accessed 24 March 2025)
Office for National Statistics (ONS) (2023a) ‘UK Census 2021: Social rented housing’. Available at: ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/housing/bulletins/housingenglandandwales/census2021 (Accessed 24 March 2025)
Office for National Statistics (ONS) (2023b) ‘UK Census 2021: Household composition: One-person household: Aged 66 years and over’. Available at: ons.gov.uk/datasets/TS003/editions/2021/versions/4 (Accessed 28 May 2025)
Office for National Statistics (ONS) (2023c) ‘UK Census 2021: Self-reported general health: bad health/very bad health’. Available at: ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/healthandsocialcare/healthandwellbeing/articles/generalhealthbyagesexanddeprivationenglandandwales/census2021 (Accessed 24 March 2025)
Office for National Statistics (ONS) (2023d) ‘UK Census 2021: Age structure of the population: Aged 65 years and over’. Available at: ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/populationandmigration/populationestimates/datasets/populationandhouseholdestimatesenglandandwalescensus2021 (Accessed 24 March 2025)
Office for National Statistics (ONS) (2024) ‘UK Census 2021: Families and households: Lone parent households with dependent children’. Available at: ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/families/datasets/familiesandhouseholdsfamiliesandhouseholds/current (Accessed 24 March 2025)
