The Woolavington and Puriton Villages Together Big Local area (known as Villages Together Big Local) brought together two villages on the Polden Hills in Somerset. Both Woolavington and Puriton had large open spaces and a range of community buildings. They were separated by a main road, which had no footpath or cycle route, and limited lighting. The nearest town, Bridgwater, was just over four miles away. A large-scale, brownfield development between the villages began during Big Local – the Gravity Enterprise Zone. It aimed to provide a destination for international investment, with a range of potential benefits for the community, like 4,000 new jobs, training, and improved connections between the villages (Somerset Council, 2025).
In 2021, the population of the Big Local area was 4,000 and predominantly White British (97 per cent) (ONS, 2022; 2023a). Most residents lived in detached and semi-detached housing with some terraced, and while the majority was owner occupied, 13 per cent of households were rented from a social landlord (ONS, 2023b; 2023c). Compared to the wider South West, a greater proportion of children in the area lived in relative low income families (DWP, 2025) and a higher proportion of the population had no qualifications (ONS, 2023d).
Woolavington and Puriton each benefitted from a range of community activities and venues (prior to becoming joined up as a Big Local area), and each had a separate parish council. The geographical separation of the villages, with residents feeling a connection to their own village but not the wider Big Local area, presented a challenge to building a unified partnership. However, by 2014 an initial steering group had been established, and this became the Villages Together Big Local partnership.
The partnership brought together residents from across the area, some of whom were also part of the parish councils. Over the life of Big Local, participation in the partnership remained high (with up to fifteen members), with an even split of representation between the two villages. The partnership initially used small working groups to focus on specific themes, like activities for younger people and older people, and environmental improvements.
Early community consultation focused on doorstep interviews, engaging with people at local events, and drawing on the insight of partnership members who were well connected to village halls. In 2015, the Villages Together partnership contracted two workers to increase the reach of their consultation and engagement. They gathered over 1,000 views by meeting residents and nearly 80 local groups, organisations, and businesses. Quick wins (such as bulb and tree planting of verges and open spaces) were initially identified for funding alongside the installation of defibrillators in both villages.
Based on frequent resident consultation, the partnership supported a range of projects and community events focused on their priorities. These priorities included: tackling loneliness; supporting families (particularly young people and older people); helping to improve community facilities; community grants; improving the local environment; and celebrating important occasions which brought people together (such as the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee). Communication and sharing information with residents were central to the partnership’s approach. They did this through their website, social media, and local news outlets.
The Covid-19 pandemic caused a drop off in the partnership’s activities, and they identified the need to take on workers to increase capacity and support delivery. In 2022, a Community Project Lead and a Support Worker were employed. They supported the development of the partnership’s plan to develop a community hub at Bitham Walk Hall. Following a successful pilot period, the Hub – renamed Bitham Community Hub – became a key part of the partnership’s legacy. As the Big Local programme came to an end, the Hub remained open with the support of SHAL Housing (the Locally Trusted Organisation), Spark Somerset, Thrive Somerset, and a team of local volunteers.
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.
During late 2022 and early 2023 the Villages Together Big Local workers and partnership undertook a final phase of in-depth community consultation. They gathered insights from hundreds of residents through face-to-face questionnaires, an online survey, and several events. The development of a community hub in Woolavington was identified as a priority, as 82 per cent of consulted residents thought there should be a community hub or social centre in the village. The partnership and their workers developed an action plan to pilot the use of Bitham Walk Hall as a venue where residents could access support or other activities.
The community hub pilot presented opportunities for the Villages Together team to work closely with local organisations. A workshop brought fifteen organisations together to explore what each wanted to achieve through their involvement, the opportunities of working together, and how they would know if it was making a positive difference. These organisations saw the hub as an opportunity to improve their connection with the Villages Together community, as their rural location limited the availability of services. Organisations involved included local authorities, housing associations, social services, healthcare services, advice and information services, emergency services, youth services, and SHAL Housing.
An open day in October 2024 engaged 40 residents to ensure the community had input into what the community hub offered. For residents this included access to IT and printing, and social activities based on people’s interests.
Bitham Walk Hall was owned by Somerset County Council, in an area with high levels of social housing. It had a large hall, kitchen, toilet block, and small office, all of which were wheelchair accessible. Villages Together worked through SHAL Housing to agree a 2‑year licence with Somerset County Council to run the hall, which was renamed Bitham Community Hub (or The Hub for short).
Multiple organisations were located within The Hub. This was intended to enable residents to access services and support in an accessible place and for organisations to connect more effectively with each other, to improve signposting and referral. It also provided a social, inclusive space where residents could connect, through groups, a café, and activities.
The Hub was supported by the Big Local workers, with a new role recruited in 2025 to co-ordinate activities. The ambition was for The Hub to become financially sustainable through funding from organisations and paid use of the space, with a resident steering group guiding activities. The approach was replicated at another community venue, with a weekly drop-in held at Puriton Village Hall hosting groups and services.
A wide range of services were made available in The Hub and through the community drop-in at the Puriton Village Hall. These included health services, such as dementia support and peri-menopause support, and Spark IT Digital Champions. The latter were four volunteers who helped address the digital divide by helping nearly 150 residents feel more confident using their phones, tablets, and computers. Social activities included Warm Woolly Wednesdays, a talking café, and a craft group. These activities connected people in the community, sometimes for the first time, and built a network of residents and good neighbours who supported each other.
As the Big Local programme came to an end, 16 organisations and agencies were providing support services to residents at The Hub and the community drop-in at Puriton Village Hall. Another drop-in session was also planned at Edington Village Hall. Organisations involved in The Hub felt that taking services and support directly into the community was helping them to reach people more effectively. Over 1,500 people accessed some kind of service, activity, or event at The Hub or Puriton Village Hall, supported by around 40 volunteers.
The Villages Together partnership focussed on listening to young residents, responding to their needs, and creating or refurbishing spaces for new youth activities. Early on, in 2015 and 2016, they commissioned Somerset Rural Youth Project to research what was most needed by speaking to young people across the villages. Young advisors identified through this process, met with the partnership to present the results and their plans, contributing to an inclusive decision-making process.
Following this consultation, the partnership supported several youth projects. Big Local funding was invested in youth theatre initiatives in both villages, a new skate park in Woolavington, a pump track in Puriton, and outdoor sheltered seating in Woolavington (match funded by the Parish Council).
The Villages Together partnership found early success with Dreamscheme (a multi-agency project encouraging young people to earn community credits), with Big Local funding invested in the project for several years. Dreamscheme was an opportunity for young residents (aged 8 to 14) to take part in positive community activities, gain new skills, and meet new people. For example, a 3‑day street art workshop, resulting in the creation of a new mural on an old shipping container near the Woolavington Pavilion.
In the final phase of Big Local, funding was invested in refurbishing the Woolavington Pavilion and installing new drainage across the wider Crancombe Lane Playing Field site. The revitalised fields and pavilion led to the development of three new football teams and encouraged local volunteers to take on co-ordinating youth football teams. These teams helped young people who had not previously participated in football to take part. Big Local funding was also used to help with the team’s costs, sponsoring the Woolavington Wanderers Junior Football Club.
Early on, the Villages Together Big Local partnership realised the potential of events for engaging with both villages and providing opportunities for residents to enjoy time together. A large-scale Villages Together Radio community event was held in September 2014. Partnership members also attended events in both villages, like Christmas Fayres, Party in the Park, parish lunches, and village clean ups, to gather information on what residents saw as priorities for the community.
Early in the Big Local programme, the partnership organised two events for older residents, with transport provided and information stalls about locally available services. Each event attracted over 120 people and had a positive impact on combatting social isolation. The second event also provided an opportunity for the partnership to consult about what they could do for older residents.
Free community events co-ordinated by the Big Local workers in the last three years of delivery made the most of holiday, festive, and celebratory times (like Christmas, Easter, and Halloween). These events gained a reputation for being both fun and welcoming.
Regular children’s events and activities became a key feature of the work delivered through the new Hub at Bitham Walk Hall. These included Community Discos and events to celebrate the Woolavington Wanderers Junior Football team. These were felt to provide an opportunity for families to connect with each other and reduce isolation. Alongside specific events, the partnership felt they had been successful in turning The Hub into a welcoming drop-in space where anyone can pop inside, have a hot drink, socialise, and spend time.
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 Villages Together Big Local told Local Trust they used their Big Local funding.
Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) (2025) ‘Children in low income families: local area statistics’. Available at: gov.uk/government/statistics/children-in-low-income-families-local-area-statistics-2014-to-2024 (Accessed 8 October 2025)
Office for National Statistics (ONS) (2022) ‘UK Census 2021: All persons’. Available at: ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/populationandmigration/populationestimates/datasets/populationandhouseholdestimatesenglandandwalescensus2021 (Accessed 8 October 2025)
Office for National Statistics (ONS) (2023a) ‘UK Census 2021: Ethnic group: White: English, Welsh, Scottish, Northern Irish or British’. Available at: ons.gov.uk/datasets/TS021/editions/2021/versions/3 (Accessed 8 October 2025)
Office for National Statistics (ONS) (2023b) ‘UK Census 2021: Owner occupied housing’. Available at: ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/housing/bulletins/housingenglandandwales/census2021 (Accessed 8 October 2025)
Office for National Statistics (ONS) (2023c) ‘UK Census 2021: Social rented housing’. Available at: ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/housing/bulletins/housingenglandandwales/census2021 (Accessed 8 October 2025)
Office for National Statistics (ONS) (2023d) ‘UK Census 2021: Highest level of qualification: No qualifications’. Available at: ons.gov.uk/datasets/TS067/editions/2021/versions/3 (Accessed 8 October 2025)
Somerset Council (2025) ‘Gravity Enterprise Zone’. Available at: somerset.gov.uk/business-economy-and-licences/gravity-enterprise-zone/ (Accessed 8 October 2025)
