The West End Morecambe (WEM) Big Local area stretched west along the seafront from the centre of Morecambe, a town in the North West. In 2021, the population was around 5,500, with over 2,000 people per square kilometre, compared to 493 regionally (ONS, 2022a; 2023). Around 21 per cent of residents were under 16 (compared to 16 per cent in the wider Lancaster City Council area), and the area was among the most deprived in England (ONS, 2022b; MHCLG, 2019). Youth unemployment was 11 per cent (nearly twice the regional average) (DWP, 2026a; 2026b). Crime rates were high, with 227 recorded incidents in a year, compared to 55 in the North West (Police UK, 2025).
The area had poor access to community infrastructure (like parks, libraries, and community centres), and lower rates of civic participation (OCSI, 2019). Despite challenges, residents and tourists valued the area for the scenic promenade and beach.
The West End Morecambe (WEM) partnership prioritised community consultation from the start of Big Local. To understand the opinions of residents and key stakeholders, they ran regular events; attended public meetings; conducted surveys; ran creative outreach activities; and engaged with various organisations through existing interagency group meetings. These consultations shaped the partnership’s focus on young people, enterprise, place, and housing. These priorities remained similar throughout Big Local, with the later additions of health and wellbeing, and education.
At the start of Big Local, the WEM Partnership Committee was formed with 20 members, including 14 residents. Despite a steady majority representation of residents, the partnership struggled to gain input from young people and historically excluded communities. Lancaster District Community and Voluntary Solutions (LDCVS) became the Locally Trusted Organisation (LTO) in 2018, strengthening the partnership through strategic support and advice. A part-time development worker and a secretary recruited at the same time helped maintain community connections, facilitate meetings, manage communications, and implement plans.
Tensions emerged early on due to divisions and competing agendas among the community and partnership members, initially slowing progress. With guidance from Local Trust, the partnership paused to gain wider community involvement and consultation. During this time, they launched a new newsletter to communicate what Big Local was doing, share stories, and gather feedback on activities. The partnership evolved and improved, using a consensus-based decision-making model. As Big Local came to an end, the partnership reflected that their members were skilled, committed, and supportive of one another.
One of the partnership’s earliest initiatives was the Community Chest fund, offering small grants of around £500 to individuals and groups. This sparked local activity, gave the partnership insight into community needs, and enabled residents to test ideas and build skills. Supported projects included a website for Morecambe’s first Pride festival, theatre visits for children, and accessible seating at a community venue.
In the final phase of Big Local, the partnership refocused its approach to enable long-term impact by shifting from small grants to a more collaborative model, introducing clearer monitoring expectations and transparent funding processes. They also strengthened relationships with schools, community collectives, councils, and service providers to deliver joint initiatives.
As Big Local wrapped up, the partnership had leveraged over £200,000 in match funding and developed lasting relationships that fostered collective action to meet community needs.
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.
Stanleys Community Centre was the only community hub in the West End Morecambe (WEM) Big Local area that was not affiliated with any institutions. Despite having long supported residents in vulnerable circumstances mid-way through Big Local, in 2019, it was set to close. Stanleys staff and volunteers developed plans to secure the centre’s future, building on previous work by creating an independent registered charity. Big Local funding was allocated to help the centre establish itself as a charity and cover costs for the community hub, enabling the organisation to attract additional funding.
Recognising the centre’s value, the WEM partnership supported with the purchase of the building and provided funding for vital repairs. To help Stanleys focus on developing as a charity, Lancaster District Community and Voluntary Solutions (the partnership’s Locally Trusted Organisation) took temporary ownership. The charity was able to use this time to access further grants (including from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and Groundwork) while Big Local funding was invested in legal costs and mentoring support for managers.
By the end of Big Local, the centre operated as a trusted space for the community, supporting hundreds of residents, with dozens of volunteers and a board of trustees.
The partnership inspired and supported the development of an empty shop unit into a community space (The Link) by working with four partners — Stanleys Community Centre charity, Lancaster District Community and Voluntary Solutions, Lancaster & Morecambe College, and the Morecambe Bay Poverty Truth Commission. Responding to a local gap in services, the hub hosted adult education, advice, and support activities, helping improve community engagement and access to learning. Since opening, The Link continued to grow and became recognised as a valued community asset, hosting many services including a young people’s forum, digital skills education services, and heat and energy advice sessions.
To address a gap in digital access and confidence, Big Local funding was allocated to support a digital skills programme at The Link. The project offered informal, one-to-one and small group sessions, helping over 50 residents in its first year. Sessions covered online basics, including managing benefits and staying safe online. Ten participants gained formal IT qualifications, while many others reported greater digital confidence and independence. The flexible, low-pressure format helped rebuild trust among participants in local adult education. It also strengthened the college’s links with the community, laying the groundwork for future investment in digital inclusion.
Early in Big Local, community consultations identified improving the physical neighbourhood as a priority. Big Local funding was allocated to Regent Park, alongside match funding from the Pocket Parks Plus scheme. Funding helped re-turf the bowling green and a redundant path; resurface the former Multi-Use Games Area (MUGA) for walking football and netball; and create a nature haven and sensory garden.
The park received a Green Flag Award (an international standard for public parks and green spaces) and was nominated for a national award. The Friends of Regent Park Group continued to help maintain the Park, and the central building became a cafe and social club. The partnership reported the park as well used by residents, especially during lockdown.
Food poverty was a priority for the Big Local partnership, particularly with the Covid-19 pandemic. The partnership worked with Food Poverty Alliance and Eggcup (a volunteer-led organisation that redistributes surplus food from supermarkets). Initially based in Lancaster, Eggcup delivered food directly to households in the West End Morecambe area during lockdown.
Recognising the need for a more sustainable, community-led model, Big Local funding enabled Eggcup to pilot a new approach, where residents signed up as members and used the service as needed. They secured premises, completed essential building work, obtained hygiene certificates, and covered staff costs.
The outlet quickly gained momentum after lockdown, offering members the opportunity to pay a small fee and choose food they needed from the shop. Giving users choice made Eggcup’s approach different from a traditional foodbank, and users and Eggcup felt it was more valuable because it allowed for different dietary requirements and family needs.
Eggcup’s space became a social hub, helping build community connection and reduce stigma around using support services. They collaborated with Stanleys Community Centre and Olive Branch Food Bank to form a buying co-operative, supplying additional food to members.
After a few years, the outlet had 462 members – including 154 children – and was nearly self-sustaining. The success of the new approach enabled Eggcup to build a volunteer network and attract further support, including match funding from the local authority. Surveys conducted by Eggcup showed almost all respondents felt the outlet had significantly improved their household finances and nearly 80 per cent identified as members rather than customers, reflecting the pride and ownership the model encouraged. Many members went on to volunteer, building confidence and strengthening local ties.
Responding to the rising cost of living, Big Local funding was used to launch HEAT – providing practical advice to help residents stay warm and energy-efficient.
The partnership commissioned Green Rose (a Community Interest Company) to deliver home energy advice across the West End Morecambe area, providing guidance in residents’ homes and community spaces (like Stanleys Community Centre and The Link). Advisors helped residents review tariffs, access free energy-saving equipment through the Local Energy Advice Partnership scheme, and apply for relevant grants.
By the end of the Big Local programme, the project had provided face to face energy advice to over 1,000 individuals and distributed 500 heat advice manuals, while 15 volunteers were trained to offer basic guidance and referrals. HEAT was awarded a commendation at the 2024 Northwest Energy Efficiency Awards, while Green Rose was successful in acquiring further funding to continue the project following the end of Big Local.
The West End Morecambe Big Local partnership invested time in building relationships and collaboration across the community, including supporting Lancaster City Council’s plans for a disused theme park by gathering resident feedback on their behalf.
Towards the end of Big Local, the partnership identified a gap in personal and organisational capacity across the area. While many residents were motivated to lead change, few had the tools or confidence to start. The partnership reflected that collaboration between organisations was often limited by cultural divides and competition for funding, and established groups sometimes viewed newer ones as outsiders, contributing to a fragmented community landscape.
The partnership invested Big Local funding in setting up the Community Networking and Unity Project, to explore shared priorities and enable residents to be more actively involved in local delivery. Towards the end of Big Local, meetings brought together around 30 residents and partners (from the voluntary sector, education, and business) with £30,000 of Big Local funds ringfenced to support collaborative work. The initiative aimed to build cohesion and pilot new approaches to community-led change through co-designed and co-led projects. This included a new community forum and investing in a gardener and local artists to encourage community pride.
Responding to limited facilities, role models, and safe spaces, the West End Morecambe partnership prioritised opportunities for young residents, aiming to raise aspirations, support personal growth, and enable participation.
The partnership worked with schools and community organisations to deliver new activities, like career events for year 6 pupils. Big Local funding was allocated to Regent Park Studios Community Interest Company to run weekly sessions for 11- to 18-year-olds, to help build teamwork and confidence. Funding also supported free holiday activities for 8- to 12-year-olds at Stanleys Community Centre, including trips, workshops, and a stop-motion animation project. The partnership reflected that Stanleys Community Centre became a safe space for young people to gain experience and opportunities, while building friendships and knowledge. The centre also hosted weekly group sessions and bookable one-to-one mental health and wellbeing sessions.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, the partnership worked with schools to provide over 600 backpacks with essential stationery. After consulting 170 families, Big Local funding was allocated to supply laptops for every local year 6 pupil. Teachers reported to the partnership that reading levels were sustained, and families were supported through online wellbeing sessions.
Recognising the large local population of young people, the partnership piloted a Children’s Forum to explore how young residents could shape Big Local. This led to the creation of a youth advisory forum, based at The Link, with 45 members aged 12 to 18. Big Local funding was allocated for the forum to use on projects to enhance young people’s mental health, and they set up a grants panel to co-design the application process and make decisions. Funded activities included a creative writing project and support for an LGBTQ+ youth group.
Expanding on the forum, towards the end of Big Local, the partnership allocated funding to Lancaster District Community and Voluntary Solutions, to deliver the REACH Morecambe Youth Festival. Aimed at young residents aged 11 to 18, the festival celebrated their ideas, created a shared vision for the future, and gave feedback on local developments – including Eden of the North and the Morecambe Town Plan. The partnership also set aside money for a second festival in the future.
As part of their final plan, the partnership committed to an early project that had emerged from the Children’s Forum but had been delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Working with a primary school and drawing on pupils’ ideas, the project aimed to transform an unused school field into an outdoor learning space that would support science and sustainability education, featuring raised beds for food growing and demonstrations of renewable energy. Big Local funding was allocated to design the garden, purchase tools and materials and install features such as a wind turbine and solar panels. This was intended to help bring sustainability to life for pupils while creating a shared space for learning, growing, and supporting pupil’s wellbeing.
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 West End Morecambe Big Local told Local Trust they used their Big Local funding.
Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) (2026a) ‘Universal credit: Employment status by age’. Available at: gov.uk/government/statistics/dwp-benefit-statistics-february-2026 (Accessed 17 March 2026)
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