The North Cleethorpes Big Local area was situated along the southern bank of the Humber, within the popular seaside destination town of Cleethorpes. With a population of 9,563 residents, the boundary of the Big Local area did not include the main tourist-destination areas of Cleethorpes (ONS, 2022). Instead, it contained housing (nearly 70 per cent of which was terraced) (ONS, 2023), some shops, eateries, green spaces, and a section of promenade and beach, as well as the main Cleethorpes train station. The local community faced distinct socioeconomic challenges, falling within the 20 per cent most deprived areas of England (MHCLG, 2019).
In preparation for their first plan, the partnership (referring to themselves as Big Local North Cleethorpes) engaged with over 3,000 people of all ages residing in, working in, and visiting the area. Their aim was to find out what issues most concerned residents and identify where they should focus their efforts for change in the area. Several key delivery themes emerged, including physical infrastructure, the environment, young people and families, and the local economy. The overall vision for the partnership was to create more community cohesion by working with residents, businesses, local voluntary sector organisations, and statutory bodies.
Throughout the programme, Big Local North Cleethorpes benefited from the participation of several active volunteers, each of whom contributed unique interests, skills, and priorities to the work. In their earlier years, the partnership made collective decisions as a tight team and concentrated on larger-scale infrastructure and environmental projects. These projects were often driven by the passion of individual partnership members, delivering in subgroups. Their focus gradually shifted to delivering activities addressing a broader range of themes. This shift involved close collaboration with local groups and a continued openness to emerging opportunities.
The partnership’s Locally Trusted Organisation (LTO) , Voluntary Action North East Lincolnshire, had a strong relationship with their Big Local worker. Together, they were the driving force of Big Local for the latter half of the programme, acting on the wishes of residents and the partnership, sharing funding ideas and collaborating on projects from inception through to delivery. As a local membership organisation with a track record in community development, Voluntary Action North East Lincolnshire added value to the work of the Big Local partnership by drawing on existing relationships and networks in the area, introducing successful projects from elsewhere, and supporting efforts to secure match funding.
A key aspect of the partnership’s approach was investing in local organisations and venues, alongside supporting resident-led activities. They focused on supporting initiatives that could become self-sustaining and would continue to benefit the community once the programme ended. The development of community venues, including the Pavilion, Cycle Hub, and community hub, formed a key part of their legacy, as did the continued delivery of Big Local initiatives (through their LTO) such as the Green Influencers group for young people.
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.
The Big Local North Cleethorpes partnership collaborated with numerous stakeholders on a long-term project to restore a pavilion for community use. The Sussex Pavilion was a historic recreation centre, constructed in 1934 on the local Sussex Recreation Ground. Over the years, the building had declined in popularity and eventually fell into disrepair.
Big Local funding of £52,000 was invested into restoring and developing the building, which was supplemented significantly by volunteer hours and in-kind private-sector sponsorship. The partnership supported the Sidney Sussex Community Group in negotiating a lease for the site from the local authority and establishing financial systems. Sussex Pavilion underwent refurbishment to a high standard, retaining many of its original features and featuring a new sprung dancefloor on its reopening. Residents saw the restored space as an asset for the area.
In 2015, the Pavilion received recognition, winning ‘Community Project of the Year’ in the Grimsby Telegraph. Despite its successes, the partnership experienced some challenges around the reopening, including a lack of awareness of the contribution of Big Local, and some frustrations around anticipated access to the space going forward. However, they felt the project had developed their learning around collaborating with different stakeholders, and they felt stronger as a group for it.
The Pavilion remained a key venue in the community after the Big Local programme had ended. It was used as a base for local groups and services designed to meet a range of community needs. This included a baby bank, seasonal events such as a Halloween disco, and language lessons.
In collaboration with local partners, Big Local North Cleethorpes participated in a £500,000 redevelopment project at Cleethorpes Railway Station ticket office, transforming the space into a cycle hub. The partnership was drawn to this proposal due to its alignment with supporting local enterprise, promoting healthy lifestyles, and contributing to the regeneration of the North Promenade area.
The Cleethorpes Cycle Hub officially opened in 2019, providing residents with the ability to hire, park, and repair bicycles. The Big Local funding contribution of £20,000 was earmarked for the construction of a cycle ramp, ensuring easy access to the station concourse for cyclists and the wider community. The partnership considered the improved accessibility of the station to be a significant legacy of the programme.
The partnership wanted a base for Big Local in North Cleethorpes, and to secure an accessible long-term drop-in space where community activities could be based. When an opportunity arose to invest in the refurbishment of a former shop and flat at 82 Grimsby Road – a prominent local access road – Big Local funding was contributed to the purchase by a local social enterprise. This ownership carried requirements for the building’s use, which aligned with the partnership’s community-focused intentions.
Once renovated, 82 Grimsby Road offered numerous community amenities, including storage, Wi-Fi, heating, tables, chairs, workbenches, a computer, and a TV. The partnership also constructed a shed with a pleasant garden space, which they named in memory of a former Big Local committee member.
As intended, the space was an anchor for the partnership during the programme and helped establish Big Local presence in the area. It became a hub for local community groups, hosting various support services and activities. Big Local North Cleethorpes worked on initiatives to secure the hub’s future for the community, such as renting out the flat as office space, and reinvesting in the building’s ongoing operations.
After the Big Local programme came to an end, the hub was managed by Voluntary Action North East Lincolnshire, the partnership’s LTO, providing a base for their activities and operations. The hub received a £10,000 grant from Forte Charitable Foundation to cover some of the running costs, supporting them to continue providing a warm, welcoming space for residents to take part in social groups and events — such as a craft group and monthly quiz — and access drop-in sessions.
Alongside their success creating and developing community venues, Big Local North Cleethorpes also encountered challenges that reflected the complexity of creating sustainable community spaces. These challenges provided important learning for the partnership and helped develop their skills and experience.
One example was the development of a new cultural venue, Moon on the Water, situated in the North Promenade area of Cleethorpes. The partnership provided two grants, covering health and safety and food hygiene standard requirements as well as the purchasing of equipment, to enable a diverse range of live events. The venue opened in 2016 as a music and performing arts space, with a vegan café and bar.
However, the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic and a large rent increase meant the venue was unable to reopen once lockdown restrictions lifted. While the initial Big Local investment helped establish the venue, its sustainability depended on circumstances beyond the partnership’s control, highlighting both the potential benefits and risks of supporting community assets.
The partnership also sought to enhance the environment by negotiating to bring local spaces into community use. They had long-held ambitions to clear debris from parts of the North Beach, turning unusable land into a safe and useful public amenity. A resident went about sourcing evidence to determine who owned the land, however they were ultimately unable to confirm this and could not move forward with the project. The partnership similarly wanted to acquire a local pond and surrounding area to create a community amenity. Despite efforts to explore possibilities with the landowner and other partners, the project was shelved.
For several years, the partnership tried different avenues to try and progress these projects. While they ultimately proved disappointing for the partnership, members felt they developed their capacity in evidence-building and negotiating. They also felt that the length of time and flexibility afforded by the Big Local programme meant they were the right people to explore the possibility of these projects.
Over the course of the programme, responding to changing circumstances, Big Local North Cleethorpes transitioned from directly supporting young people in the area to commissioning local groups and organisations for more specific interventions.
Big Local funding was invested in the Cleethorpes Youth Club (known locally as ‘The Hangout’), and the partnership collaborated with YMCA, VANEL, and a local social enterprise to establish and operate it. This ran successfully for a couple of years, with separate groups for older and younger children, and numerous local volunteers involved in delivery. However, with Covid-19 restrictions and related challenges around volunteer capacity these youth sessions ceased in 2020.
In response, the partnership collaborated with other local groups and organisations that supported young people. This shift enabled the partnership to extend support to young people in more targeted ways. For instance, during the Covid-19 pandemic, Big Local funding was invested in IT support and equipment for families facing difficulties accessing online teaching during lockdown periods. Additionally, they supported young people from North Cleethorpes to participate in a local Green Influencers programme for young people aged 10 to 14 years old. This initiative involved local young people in activities, such as litter-picks, which were intended to foster a sense of environmental responsibility and community pride among young residents.
After the Big Local programme ended, the management of the group was taken on by Voluntary Action North East Lincolnshire, becoming the Green Influencers VANEL. Children aged 2 to 16 years old were engaged in environmental projects such as weekly gardening and craft groups, and building a new sand pit for children at a local family hub.
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 North Cleethorpes Big Local told Local Trust they used their Big Local funding.
Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (MHCLG) (2019) ‘English indices of deprivation 2019’. Available at: gov.uk/government/statistics/english-indices-of-deprivation-2019 (Accessed 9 October 2024)
Office for National Statistics (ONS) (2022) ‘UK Census 2021: All persons’. Available at: ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/populationandmigration/populationestimates/datasets/populationandhouseholdestimatesenglandandwalescensus2021 (Accessed 9 October 2024)
Office for National Statistics (ONS) (2023) ‘UK Census 2021: Whole house or bungalow: Terraced’. Available at: ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/housing/bulletins/housingenglandandwales/census2021 (Accessed 18 October 2024)
