Building sustainable partnerships: The work of Big Local Niamh Goggin, Small Change (NI) Ltd Social Investment Advisor Big Local

What is Big Local? Big Lottery Fund’s largest ever (£200m) investment in community-led regeneration 150 areas across England – from Northumberland to Dover – From Cornwall to Hull Each area is getting at least £1 million to spend in up to 10 years Making their areas even better places to live

Delivered by Local Trust Working with national delivery partners: Community Development Foundation CCLA (Fund Managers) Institute for Voluntary Action Research (IVAR) National Association of Neighbourhood Management (NANM) Renaisi Small Change (NI) Ltd Unltd – the Foundation for Social Entrepreneurs.

What sort of areas? Smallest is Harefield and Townhill Park in Southampton with pop of 1,365 Largest is Little Hulton in Salford with pop of 17,140 Concentrated urban areas like South Bermondsey, South London Rural areas like Three Parishes of Gobowen, St Martins and Weston Rhyn in North West Shropshire More than 1 million people live in Big Local areas in England

Big Local’s four outcomes Communities will be better able to identify local needs and take action in response to them People will have increased skills and confidence so that they can continue to identify and respond to local needs in the future The community will make a difference to the needs it prioritises People will feel that their area is an even better place to live.

Resident-led Residents identify issues and opportunities in their areas Residents work together to develop a plan to address them Residents decide who they want to work with to deliver the plan Funding doesn’t have to go to just one organisation within the area

Communities building financial resilience…. their own way Raise the issues and opportunities Give space to share knowledge and expertise, decide priorities and build partnerships Workshops, briefings, podcasts, examples Find who is already doing stuff and support them to do more Innovative, small, flexible funding packages Small Change and 12 p/t social investment reps

North West Ipswich Big Local North West Ipswich has been plagued by illegal loan sharks £5k marketing grant and £20k corporate deposit in Eastern Savings and Loans CU CU agrees to attract 250 new adult members to CU and save at least £30k in interest costs Also to open Junior Savers Clubs in two local primary schools Finally, to offer account and payment card services for local community groups

Collyhurst (Manchester) Big Local Partnership members trained by Manchester CU – 17 new CU members to date Volunteers trained to support residents to open accounts Savings club with financial education and support to reduce debt Save £2/wk for 6 months - £20 reward Northwards Housing/Smarterbuys stores

Greatfield Big Local (Hull) Agreement with Hull and East Yorkshire CU (£18k/3yrs) School Pennies 2 Pounds Clubs Local CU Contact Point Community Finance Buddies Promotional Activities Volunteer Training Co-operative E-Store and Smarterbuys Community Account for clubs, societies etc. Targets for membership, savings, loans and community accounts

Leigh West, Wigan High proportion of redbrick terraced housing owned by private landlords and in poor repair Social enterprise letting agency Local residents identify properties in poor state of repair and Council targets landlords Working with a CDFI to develop a loans scheme to help residents/landlords improve properties and make them more energy efficient

Finance for Enterprise Microfinance pilot project from HACT and the CDFA RSLs are persuaded to 'invest' (grant-fund) £50k in a microfinance loan fund for their area. This attracts a further £100k from the Start-Up Loans Company A local CDFI (Business Finance Solutions, Manchester for Collyhurst) runs the loans fund at local level The Start-Up Loans Company will also provide business advice and mentoring to the value of £1,000 per start-up. Collyhurst has decided that they want to invest £5k of their funds alongside the RSL. This will attract an extra £10k from the Start Up Loans Company.

Community Energy Wind Turbines Solar Photovoltaics – Rent a Roof schemes Solar water heating for sports facilities Domestic energy efficiency schemes Green Community Buildings

Learning lessons Local people know the problems and can work out the solutions Don’t crowd out existing services; Grant fund/commission services that cost provider more Invest where residents and providers can expect a return £1m commands respect that residents should be given by right Build lasting partnerships based on respect and high quality service delivery

Local Trust: Big Local Big Local: Social Investment investment/ Small Change (NI) Ltd Niamh Goggin Small Change (N.I.) Ltd 63 Claragh Rd Castlewellan BT31 9NU Northern Ireland Tel Mob Skype niamh.goggin2 Website

For Discussion What would residents say is needed to build financially resilient communities? How can they make their voices heard? Which works better for them; small, volunteer- run local credit unions or larger, professionally managed full service CUs/CDFIs? What message would you give to Big Local residents? What message will you take away from this session?