Located on the eastern edge of Blackburn in Lancashire, this Big Local area of around 8,900 residents (ONS, 2022) covered the whole ward of Shadsworth with Whitebirk. Within the area boundary, there were four primary schools, a secondary school, two churches, a community centre and two community bases. Bordered by industrial and retail parks, and the M65, the area also had some green spaces and two reservoirs. The local borough of Blackburn with Darwen was amongst the 10% most deprived neighbourhoods, and residents were experiencing extremely high levels of poor mental and physical health (MHCLG, 2019a; 2019b). There were also high levels of crime, anti-social behaviour and criminal damage with incidents triple the national average (Police UK, 2024a; 2024b; 2024c). Youth unemployment was greater than the regional average (DWP, 2024a; 2024b) and residents also had high levels of food vulnerability (British Red Cross, 2020).
Whilst home ownership was 25 per cent lower than the regional average (ONS, 2023), active tenants’ associations advocated for residents and organised community activities, such as summer carnivals and events. Overall, the area had low levels of connectedness based on access to key services, digital infrastructure, isolation, and strength of the local jobs market compared to regional and national averages (OCSI, 2019).
The partnership consulted residents in the Shadsworth with Whitebirk Big Local area to shape their vision for “a safe and clean place with a strong sense of community where residents can aspire and achieve a better future for everyone”. Their activities focused on supporting young people and parents; providing access to affordable food and debt advice; improving resident health and the local environment; and increasing community events and activities. Over time, the partnership engaged more and more residents to volunteer, and, until midway through the Big Local programme, they employed a worker to help support projects and activities.
At first, the partnership structured itself as a funding panel to distribute small grants to community projects such as vegetable growing and cookery courses. Over time, members reflected that they wanted to become a partner of community groups and organisations, rather than a funder. As a result, they ended their grant-giving scheme and took on greater responsibilities by helping groups develop their ideas and become ventures that would be sustainable beyond Big Local. They also commissioned projects that aligned with their priorities for the area.
Responding to Covid-19 marked a turning point for the members of the Shadsworth with Whitebirk Big Local partnership. Organising and delivering emergency food parcels to residents increased their confidence, skills, and appetite for greater involvement in delivering Big Local, leading to the development of their community shop. The shop opened in 2021 and became a hub for community activity which the partnership hoped would continue long after Big Local.
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.
Throughout the programme, the partnership allocated funding for improvements to two existing spaces in the Shadsworth with Whitebirk community. In one, Big Local funding was invested in installing central heating. This helped to reduce loneliness, particularly for older residents, as they could continue to meet and partake in activities during the colder months. In the second space, funding was invested in a new kitchen, new doors and windows, and electrical works. This helped the partnership adapt the space to the needs of residents, with a community café where residents could socialise.
In 2018, the Shadsworth with Whitebirk Big Local partnership made plans to create a multi-functional shop space to sell fruit and vegetables, and host activities and events to support families who were experiencing financial difficulties. Run and supported by volunteers, the Big Local Community Shop opened in St Oswald’s Church Hall in 2021 and gained charitable status the following year.
The distribution of food from the shop during Covid-19 highlighted the need for an ongoing community food sharing project. In the first year of operation, around 80 families were paying £6 a week to receive £80 of groceries through a distribution service based at the community shop. Residents could access affordable and healthy food, household goods and clothes.
Residents could also access debt, benefits, and employment advice through events at the shop, and were signposted to additional support services. Blackburn Council later awarded the partnership funding to run the shop as a warm space for residents affected by the cost of living crisis. At the end of the Big Local programme, the shop continued to cater for a variety of needs within the community by providing a welcoming space for residents to volunteer and access advice and support.
Community consultation highlighted that a more proactive approach was needed to improve the health and wellbeing of young people in the Shadsworth with Whitebirk area. To improve physical wellbeing, Big Local funding helped purchase two sailing boats for a local volunteer-run sailing club. This increased the number of young people able to learn new skills and improve their health by being active outside.
The Big Local partnership also improved children’s mental wellbeing by running a six-week mindfulness course for nearly 800 pupils across five schools. Big Local funding was used to purchase 500 teddy bears as a visual reminder for children to do their breathing practice.
In response to high levels of youth unemployment, the Shadsworth with Whitebirk Big Local partnership established six apprenticeships with local organisations to support young people into employment. One apprentice went on to secure a permanent position with a local social housing organisation.
During community consultations, young people also expressed wanting to develop better money management skills. This led to the partnership commissioning the ‘Debt Aware’ project, which provided a foundation in money matters to over 400 students across five different schools. From those involved, 80 young people were recruited as volunteers as ‘money mentors’ who could advise their peers.
Building on their vision to create “a safe and clean place with a strong sense of community”, the Shadsworth with Whitebirk partnership developed an environment group early on but initially found it difficult to mobilise volunteers. So, the partnership decided to fund a worker for one day a week for six months to train residents to grow vegetables and hang baskets of flowers. The environment group went on to redevelop a community garden, involving young people and schools by getting them to make bird and bee boxes. The group also organised a community clean up in partnership with local groups and social landlords, a primary school, and the local authority. Over 120 people were involved, and they created a garden space at Intack School.
These initiatives not only improved the environment but also helped foster a strong sense of community. Over time the Shadsworth with Whitebirk partnership built a strong volunteering network that worked together to improve green spaces and help residents take pride in their outdoor spaces.
During a time of crisis, the partnership strove to be a voice for the community and provided practical support. In 2021, several families in Shadsworth with Whitebirk experienced homelessness after a fire destroyed five houses and two flats. The partnership played a role in coordinating support, by sourcing goods from the community and local organisations, and facilitating dialogue with the local authority and social landlords to provide emergency housing.
After an investigation found plastic fences were the root cause of the fire spreading so quickly, the partnership highlighted this issue to the local authority and landlords. Residents recognised Big Local’s potential for impact and valued how they advocated for them.
Because of existing poor health and isolation, residents of Shadsworth with Whitebirk ward were disproportionately at higher-risk of vulnerability to Covid-19, compared to regional and national averages (British Red Cross, 2020).
Drawing on their existing relationship with FareShare, the UK’s largest food waste charity, the partnership mobilised volunteers to provide food parcels regularly throughout the Covid-19 pandemic to residents experiencing food vulnerability. They worked closely with local authorities, voluntary and third sector, businesses, a mosque, and palliative care services to identify the needs of the community. For example, Big Local funding was used to support families and individuals experiencing financial challenges during lockdown. The partnership reflected that because of their position within the community, they were one of the first groups to respond so rapidly.
After lockdowns, the partnership continued to work with local schools to support families that had been particularly affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. They provided free food parcels during school holidays to support uninterrupted access. Because of their strategic response, the Shadsworth with Whitebirk Big Local partnership achieved positive press, and social media helped promote their impact. This improved their reputation with local partners and businesses, helping more residents to get involved in Big Local.
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 Shadsworth with Whitebirk Big Local told Local Trust they used their Big Local funding.
British Red Cross (2020) ‘Food Vulnerability Index Score’. (Accessed 9 September 2024)
Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) (2024a) ‘Universal credit: Employment status by age’. (Accessed 29 October 2024)
Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) (2024b) ‘Jobseeker’s allowance by age’. (Accessed 29 October 2024)
Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (MHCLG) (2019a) ‘English indices of deprivation 2019’. (Accessed 24 June 2024)
Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (MHCLG) (2019b) ‘English indices of deprivation 2019: Health deprivation and disability domain’. (Accessed 29 October 2024)
Office for National Statistics (ONS) (2022) ‘UK Census 2021: All persons’. (Accessed 16 October 2024)
Office for National Statistics (ONS) (2023) ‘UK Census 2021: Housing owned outright’. (Accessed 16 October 2024)
Oxford Consultants for Social Inclusion (OCSI) (2019) ‘Left behind neighbourhoods’. (Accessed 16 October 2024)
Police UK (2024a) ‘Crime type: All crimes (12 month total)’. (Accessed 16 October 2024)
Police UK (2024b) ‘Top reported crimes: Anti social behaviour (12 month total)’. (Accessed 16 October 2024)
Police UK (2024c) ‘Top reported crimes: Criminal damage (12 month total)’. (Accessed 16 October 2024)
