LT-14-01-Influences-on-Big-Local-areas.pdf

LT-14-01-Influences-on-Big-Local-areas.pdf - page 1/73 - Influences on the development of Big Loc…

Influences on the development of Big Local areas

LT-14-01-Influences-on-Big-Local-areas.pdf - page 2/73 - Contents

Contents

LT-14-01-Influences-on-Big-Local-areas.pdf - page 3/73 - 1. Introduction

1. Introduction

LT-14-01-Influences-on-Big-Local-areas.pdf - page 4/73 - partnership and, in the meantime, there …

partnership and, in the meantime, there is generally a group of residents and others to get Big Local started. This group has different names in different Big Local areas and in this report it is referred to as a steering group.

LT-14-01-Influences-on-Big-Local-areas.pdf - page 5/73 - 1.2 About this research

1.2 About this research

LT-14-01-Influences-on-Big-Local-areas.pdf - page 6/73 - To take account of the nature of the are…

To take account of the nature of the area, the sample included eight in urban areas, four in rural areas and two in rural/coastal areas. Big Local rep: the 14 areas were supported by 14 different reps. By not including any rep more than once, we limited the influence of the rep on the sample.

LT-14-01-Influences-on-Big-Local-areas.pdf - page 7/73 - Interviews with paid workers: some areas…

Interviews with paid workers: some areas (five) had a paid worker supporting Big Local. These workers were sometimes paid for using some of the Big Local funding, and sometimes funded by a supporting organisation. In total we interviewed four paid workers.

LT-14-01-Influences-on-Big-Local-areas.pdf - page 8/73 - Alongside the voices of the residents, t…

Alongside the voices of the residents, this report provides an insight into the views of those who are supporting them in the areas, such as the locally trusted organisation.

LT-14-01-Influences-on-Big-Local-areas.pdf - page 9/73 - 2. Perceptions of Big Local

2. Perceptions of Big Local

LT-14-01-Influences-on-Big-Local-areas.pdf - page 10/73 - `If you read whats on the Big Local webs…

`If you read whats on the Big Local website, they are insistent that its led by the community and dont let any powerful interest groups come and take your money � its your money.

LT-14-01-Influences-on-Big-Local-areas.pdf - page 11/73 - real legacy is the extent to which you c…

real legacy is the extent to which you can increase the self confidence of the community to go out and look for ways of doing things themselves and accepting that it doesnt all have to be decline, you can turn things around if enough people get together.

LT-14-01-Influences-on-Big-Local-areas.pdf - page 12/73 - Longer-term: as outlined in Section 2.2,…

Longer-term: as outlined in Section 2.2, three locally trusted organisations consider that the long-term nature of Big Local is one of its unique features. They report that it is more common for funding to be shorter-term and Big Local provides the possibility for greater impact over a longer time.

LT-14-01-Influences-on-Big-Local-areas.pdf - page 13/73 - 3. Influences on the

3. Influences on the

LT-14-01-Influences-on-Big-Local-areas.pdf - page 14/73 - lead to some variability as the messages…

lead to some variability as the messages pass through the chain. Another source of messaging about Big Local is through area to area contact. Areas find this useful but it can sometimes lead to misunderstandings. Residents outside of the steering group or partnership are sometimes unsure about what Big Local is, so areas use different ways to make it clearer and easier to identify. These include creating a brand, creating a physical base or having a dedicated worker. Areas believe that what they choose to do is mainly influenced by residents through consultation � however they acknowledged that it is difficult to get people to think of innovative ideas rather than the usual suggestions. Areas are creating support networks across multiple types of organisations including schools, councils and tenants and residents associations. Relationships with these organisations are generally based on relationships with individuals that are passionate about their community. Many residents are familiar with working with the community although new people are getting involved. This creates a blend of experience and the potential for new thinking. Partnerships and steering groups contain knowledgeable and skilled people who can draw on their wider network. However, steering groups and partnerships are more confident about the consultation and planning stage than they are about their ability to deliver Big Local. Areas generally believe they are resident-led but display mixed levels of empowerment and permission seeking. Residents in some areas are comfortable making decisions whereas others look for permission from elsewhere. For example, they may look to the rep or the locally trusted organisation to make decisions or for reassurance. Members of steering groups and partnerships work well together, voicing their views and providing healthy challenge. They are aligned on what they are trying to achieve but less aligned on how they will do this. Areas value a dedicated worker, where they have one, and feel they are making better progress with them. However there is no clear evidence that they are making greater progress than areas that do not have a worker. The combined skills, knowledge, experience and confidence of residents working on Big Local and their ability to develop and use an extended network, is important for the areas long-term success.

LT-14-01-Influences-on-Big-Local-areas.pdf - page 15/73 - 3.1 Introduction

3.1 Introduction

LT-14-01-Influences-on-Big-Local-areas.pdf - page 16/73 - 3.2 Programme related factors

3.2 Programme related factors

LT-14-01-Influences-on-Big-Local-areas.pdf - page 17/73 - having conversations with organisations,…

having conversations with organisations, specifically the locally trusted organisation, without involving the residents. One area had found it challenging to work with a new rep whose style was quite different to the person they had been working with previously. These are not widespread issues amongst the visited areas.

LT-14-01-Influences-on-Big-Local-areas.pdf - page 18/73 - Rep and locally trusted organisation

Rep and locally trusted organisation

LT-14-01-Influences-on-Big-Local-areas.pdf - page 19/73 - because `you can actually see things mov…

because `you can actually see things moving. However, she was unsure that star people realised the connection between getting the award and what Big Local is about. This was echoed by the residents in the same area who felt that, although UnLtd awards are given because of Big Local, the partnership is not fully aware of who has received them. They felt that the projects could be something for the Big Local area to `shout about and that they should all be working together.

LT-14-01-Influences-on-Big-Local-areas.pdf - page 20/73 - People

People

LT-14-01-Influences-on-Big-Local-areas.pdf - page 21/73 - things done as this network of people, i…

things done as this network of people, if aligned with Big Local, brings a network of vast experience and connections into the community.

LT-14-01-Influences-on-Big-Local-areas.pdf - page 22/73 - In addition to these common issues, ther…

In addition to these common issues, there are examples of areas describing more specific issues that they are facing. These include areas having a bad reputation, for example being labelled as `a chav area which `therefore depresses the housing market and people see it as a cheap place to live for a short time but might not look to stay. Two areas described a very specific problem with `irresponsible and `absent landlords not looking after properties. This is causing a poorly cared for environment which is having a negative impact on house prices in the area. Another area described how they get a lot of bad press even though people are proud to come from the area and they said that `the press would give us bad publicity any time of the day or night but we try and publicise good things like the carnival but were still having problems.

LT-14-01-Influences-on-Big-Local-areas.pdf - page 23/73 - others. Residents feel that people in th…

others. Residents feel that people in the two areas not covered by the name will not feel Big Local is for them and therefore not engage with it. the mixture of housing included � one area described how people in `more affluent parts of the area do not associate with Big Local as they believe that it is for deprived areas and they do not think of themselves as deprived. how the boundary is used in practice � A number of areas described a desire to treat the boundaries as flexible rather than a strict guide on who can and cannot be involved. It should be noted that areas cannot make the boundary smaller and there was no suggestion that areas wanted to do this. The flexible boundaries arose because, in reality, communities do not sit neatly on either side of the boundary. For example, children may attend a school inside the area but live outside of it. One locally trusted organisation described the limitations of only working within the boundary as service providers and businesses that work with residents within the boundary, but are based outside, would be useful connections. lack of identity � in some cases, different geographical areas that do not usually connect are joined together and labelled as a Big Local area where in reality they do not identify as one area. This influences who is involved and, in one area, led to the creation of an area brand specifically to connect these areas.

LT-14-01-Influences-on-Big-Local-areas.pdf - page 24/73 - Areas that were launched as part of the …

Areas that were launched as part of the first 50 were in place before Local Trust was formed. In the meantime, Big Lottery Fund staff were the main point of contact and some of the messages given at an early stage were changed once Local Trust was in place. For example, the locally trusted organisation in one area described how they were told by `the Lottery that they would have a paid coordinator as part of the project.

LT-14-01-Influences-on-Big-Local-areas.pdf - page 25/73 - what Big Local is. This has led areas to…

what Big Local is. This has led areas to try to make Big Local more real and less of a `phantom organisation in three ways:

LT-14-01-Influences-on-Big-Local-areas.pdf - page 26/73 - Figure 3.3 Summary of focus group relati…

Figure 3.3 Summary of focus group relational maps

LT-14-01-Influences-on-Big-Local-areas.pdf - page 27/73 - Connections with existing community grou…

Connections with existing community groups in the area

LT-14-01-Influences-on-Big-Local-areas.pdf - page 28/73 - In addition to the groups that residents…

In addition to the groups that residents belong to are other agencies and charities, which are active in the area, and choose to get involved. Areas described high interest initially when the money was first announced with some groups dropping off as they learned more about the long term process and that Big Local is not simply a grant based programme. However, in general, a network of groups remain to provide support to the residents. One area described how `its not that theyve flown in because of the �1million, they are here everyday. As shown in Figure 3.4, there is a wide range of organisations that are supporting Big Local. These groups provide access to specific parts of the community, for example, areas described particularly good relationships with schools, which are very effective at engaging young people. One area has two young residents on their `residents forum as a result of a highly engaged teacher from the local secondary school. As can be seen in Figure 3.4, many areas also have good or excellent relationships with community groups, faith groups, councils, housing associations and tenants and residents associations, all of which provide support and access to residents. These relationships tend to be formed through individuals that are passionate about working with the community. A number of the visited areas said they would like to connect more with local businesses and public sector organisations such as the police. This is reflected in Figure 3.1 as these groups show the highest level of `no relationship, although there are still `good or `excellent relationships with these groups.

LT-14-01-Influences-on-Big-Local-areas.pdf - page 29/73 - negotiating `hoops with other agencies s…

negotiating `hoops with other agencies such as the police, providing data and research. One locally trusted organisation also described how engaging with the council at a strategic level, for example with the chief executive, could be beneficial for access to match funding or to share ideas. How trusted the council is � there were instances of areas describing the need to make it clear to residents that Big Local is not a council initiative due to the scepticism associated with these. This included people thinking the money would get taken away or spent on something that the council wants to do rather than the residents. The factors that reduce trust can be summarised as follows:

LT-14-01-Influences-on-Big-Local-areas.pdf - page 30/73 - People found the following methods of en…

People found the following methods of engagement effective:

LT-14-01-Influences-on-Big-Local-areas.pdf - page 31/73 - This is particularly effective for recru…

This is particularly effective for recruiting people who are new to working with the community with 50% of this group saying they got involved through an open meeting. Other effective ways of targeting those who might not already be connected to community groups include word of mouth, leaflets and using local media.

LT-14-01-Influences-on-Big-Local-areas.pdf - page 32/73 - Figure 3.7 How active were the steering …

Figure 3.7 How active were the steering group/partnership members in the community before Big Local?

LT-14-01-Influences-on-Big-Local-areas.pdf - page 33/73 - keen to ensure they are consulting with …

keen to ensure they are consulting with people that will bring different perspectives. One way that they did this was to engage with the local youth leaders self-policing � residents can provide healthy challenge within the group, particularly in groups with a mixture of experience open-minded consultation � not making assumptions about what people in the area want looking at the evidence � using data about the area, for example housing or crime statistics, alongside data collected through consultation facilitation � the rep and the locally trusted organisation can provide a more objective perspective on the area and facilitate new and different thinking in the resident group.

LT-14-01-Influences-on-Big-Local-areas.pdf - page 34/73 - with. Generally, areas have belief in th…

with. Generally, areas have belief in the potential of their residents and believe they can draw on highly skilled and capable people. However, one estate based area, described how residents often have low skilled jobs and low self-esteem. They felt that asking them to do jobs such as the chair role was a mismatch. Another area described how some residents may be intimidated because of the language or worried that they will get into something theyre not comfortable with. Some areas noted that the language and structures that tend to be associated with Big Local can be intimidating. This includes language like `chair and `partnership.

LT-14-01-Influences-on-Big-Local-areas.pdf - page 35/73 - Others bring different technical experie…

Others bring different technical experience such as web design or social media. Some areas have residents that feel confident to take on formal roles such as the chair position whereas others are reluctant to take on these positions as they do not feel they have the skills.

LT-14-01-Influences-on-Big-Local-areas.pdf - page 36/73 - The survey data presented in Figure 3.9 …

The survey data presented in Figure 3.9 shows that partnerships or steering groups feel most confident in their ability to do the things that are required of them at this early stage of Big Local, such as to `find out what people in the area will make it an even better place to live and `working out which ideas to improve our area are most important but feel less confident about the longer term challenges of `finding other sources of support and funding to make our �1million go further and `putting Big Local into practice. One case-study area described the step change necessary to go from consultation and planning into delivery and the different type of leadership they felt they needed for this new phase. The first 100 areas to be launched were more confident than the final 50 who began their Big Local journey more recently. This suggests that resident confidence is developing as they progress through Big Local.

LT-14-01-Influences-on-Big-Local-areas.pdf - page 37/73 - Figure 3.10 Who leads Big Local?

Figure 3.10 Who leads Big Local?

LT-14-01-Influences-on-Big-Local-areas.pdf - page 38/73 - Figure 3.12 Who owns Big Local?

Figure 3.12 Who owns Big Local?

LT-14-01-Influences-on-Big-Local-areas.pdf - page 39/73 - Figure 3.13 shows how surveyed residents…

Figure 3.13 shows how surveyed residents generally believe they work well together as a group, providing healthy levels of challenge and expressing their views. Although residents are aligned on what they are trying to achieve, they are slightly less aligned on how they are going to achieve it, which reflects the stage of Big Local that most areas are at � consultation and planning � and may also reflect the expectation that decision-making may become more challenging in future, as discussed in Chapter 4.

LT-14-01-Influences-on-Big-Local-areas.pdf - page 40/73 - these two roles work closely together to…

these two roles work closely together to flexibly meet the needs of the resident group as they develop into the roles required of them. Areas are required to work in a different way, taking a longer term perspective on how to make their community an even better place to live, with residents leading from the front. Factors relating to the area � the place and the people � interact with the programme to influence how people identify with the Big Local area, as distinct from their estate or village, who gets involved and in what ways, what residents choose to do and their ability to deliver Big Local. In particular, the combined skills, knowledge, experience and confidence of the core team working on Big Local and their ability to develop and utilise an extended network, influence the development of Big Local in their area.

LT-14-01-Influences-on-Big-Local-areas.pdf - page 41/73 - 4. Progress in Big Local

4. Progress in Big Local

LT-14-01-Influences-on-Big-Local-areas.pdf - page 42/73 - The pathway has generally been helpful i…

The pathway has generally been helpful in setting out the steps and enabling residents to check their progress and see what to do next and there is no clear evidence it needs to change. People respond more favourably to it where they see it as a guide rather than a rigid structure. Local Trust may wish to restate that it is a guide and that areas can progress through the steps in different orders so that some residents and other organisations do not perceive it as a rigid structure. The Big Local process helps areas to think further ahead and to get people involved and is generally not said to be too inflexible or more difficult than other funding. Areas are not always clear on how much consultation with other residents was `enough. Local Trust may wish to help share examples from other areas that residents can use as a guide. Decision making has been largely unproblematic to date however interviewees feel that it might be more difficult in future. There may be value in Local Trust providing guidance on managing conflict and feeding back on difficult decisions or signposting residents to existing information in preparation for future decision-making that may be more challenging. Looking towards the future, interviewees anticipate they will see a tighter knit community in their area and have a better reputation. They feel there is potential for Big Local to lead to people having more ownership and that the specific issues they have identified as priorities will improve.

LT-14-01-Influences-on-Big-Local-areas.pdf - page 43/73 - areas we visited that had launched in Ju…

areas we visited that had launched in July 2010 had submitted their Big Local plan, and it had been endorsed by Local Trust, and a third area had submitted their plan and were awaiting feedback when we visited. While the different start dates for the case-study areas did not necessarily dictate the stage the areas had reached when we visited, it is worth considering this when exploring the areas progress in their Big Local journey.

LT-14-01-Influences-on-Big-Local-areas.pdf - page 44/73 - also noted as reasons for slowness. In s…

also noted as reasons for slowness. In some cases specific individuals or agencies are said to have slowed down progress.

LT-14-01-Influences-on-Big-Local-areas.pdf - page 45/73 - Getting a group together: At the start o…

Getting a group together: At the start of Big Local in an area, a key first activity is generally to get a group of people together to make it happen. There are two broad approaches to this, used either individually or together, which are:

LT-14-01-Influences-on-Big-Local-areas.pdf - page 46/73 - outlined in their Getting Started propos…

outlined in their Getting Started proposals10. These include using existing events, knocking on doors, consulting school councils, using questionnaire surveys and comments postcards, using Planning for Real11 and reaching out into the area by using a bus or `Cab Cam. Residents in one area feel that they have been helped by their rep to use more creative techniques to consult than they might have otherwise. This included using Lego, magnetic boards and paperchains and they said this had helped engage with residents and made Big Local seem different from the start. Some areas take an approach with an initial consultation to get ideas and then develop a questionnaire based on this that can be used to consult more widely with residents. It is common for the core group of residents who form the steering group or partnership to feel that they need to be confident that they have the support of the residents in the area and that their decisions reflect what people in the area want. This is typically their reason for consulting as widely as possible, although they are not always sure what would be `enough consultation. As a locally trusted organisation said: `we might end up with the same bunch of activists but we have to show Big Local that we have really got out there to find out what people feel it is like to live round here. The challenge of achieving this is one of the issues that some areas feel affected their ability to progress, as will be explained in Section 4.3. Analysing and developing a profile and plan: three of the areas, all of which were launched in July 2010, have completed consulting, analysed the information and developed their Big Local plan and profile. Reaching this point in their timeline is seen as a significant milestone that they reached between two and three years since Big Local was launched and around one to two years since Getting People Involved funding was made available. A fourth area is keen to submit their profile but have been advised by their rep to do some more community consultation before sending the profile to Local Trust. Offering small grants: three of the areas visited have chosen to use some of their Getting Started funds to offer small grants to residents and charities to do something to help the community. The aim of this is usually to offer something visible so that residents are able to see the value of Big Local to their area. It also provides an opportunity as a `pilot for residents to develop their skills and processes for grantgiving that they can use when offering small grants as part of their Big Local plan. Training and workshops: residents in three areas said that a key event on their journey is training they received � in confidence building, grant making and attending NANM events. One of these areas has also received training in health and safety, child protection and chairing a meeting. Residents in two other areas have also taken part in workshops where they discussed strategy or where statistical information for their area had been provided to help them develop their profile and plan. The training and workshops are generally considered useful. For example, an interviewee for the locally trusted organisation for the area where residents had taken part in confidence building training had seen the results in the meetings where the residents are more willing to challenge and to tell the `professionals, such as the rep or locally trusted

LT-14-01-Influences-on-Big-Local-areas.pdf - page 47/73 - organisation `youre not talking [plain] …

organisation `youre not talking [plain] English when they do not understand the language being used. Visiting other areas and spring events: a key point for residents in five areas is the opportunity to visit another area, including through the spring events. The visits help them to compare how they are progressing with other areas and `realise were doing OK and `galvanised them as a locally trusted organisation put it, because they can see people in other areas working together. The value of seeing how something can be achieved is also noted by a sixth area where residents had visited a place that was not a Big Local area but was already running a community-managed centre, which they aimed to do through Big Local.

LT-14-01-Influences-on-Big-Local-areas.pdf - page 48/73 - programme was designed to do. This diffi…

programme was designed to do. This difficulty in getting more people involved is mentioned as one of the hindrances to progress, as discussed below.

LT-14-01-Influences-on-Big-Local-areas.pdf - page 49/73 - `we have chosen to be resident-led and r…

`we have chosen to be resident-led and resident-engaged, which slows the process down.

LT-14-01-Influences-on-Big-Local-areas.pdf - page 50/73 - a local authority have had to gather a n…

a local authority have had to gather a number of quotes before making a purchase which residents feel has significantly delayed their progress. A second area has had to comply with the locally trusted organisations procedures which residents feel prevent them from getting a `quick fix. Residents are particularly frustrated by this as they had understood Big Local is `residentled.

LT-14-01-Influences-on-Big-Local-areas.pdf - page 51/73 - engaging the wider community actively in…

engaging the wider community actively in Big Local is a widespread experience that may continue through the life of the programme. There does not appear to be one solution to this issue although the approach of the areas tends to be to have an active core of residents as far as possible, many of whom are people already actively involved in the community, and to then reach out and engage and consult with other residents who, for a range of reasons, are less able to be actively involved. Adopting this approach can provide residents on the partnership or steering group with the confidence that their decisions will reflect what others in the community want while enabling them to progress.

LT-14-01-Influences-on-Big-Local-areas.pdf - page 52/73 - whether they see it as a flexible guide …

whether they see it as a flexible guide or a set of steps to which they have to stick rigidly: those who see it as a guide to `this is where you are heading and recognise you can move between steps at the same time are more positive than those who see it as `too linear peoples character and preferences: some interviewees recognise that it does not suit their personal preferences: `Im the sort of person who doesnt find it helpful and `personally, I dont work well with things like that whether they could see the relevance: some people see it more as a monitoring process for Local Trust, and that they `need to do it, than as a useful tool for developing Big Local in their area.

LT-14-01-Influences-on-Big-Local-areas.pdf - page 53/73 - Overall, the survey findings suggest tha…

Overall, the survey findings suggest that the Big Local pathway, and the process residents go through, is working for them, is sufficiently flexible and, indeed, is helping them think in the longer term and get more residents involved. However, this is not the case in all areas as some feel there is too much consultation and are finding the process difficult to understand. Although based on small numbers, there are indications that the stage the areas are at may be influencing their views on the process. For example:

LT-14-01-Influences-on-Big-Local-areas.pdf - page 54/73 - While on the whole interviewees did not …

While on the whole interviewees did not report any difficulties in decision-making, or `not enough to pull the group apart, where there have been disagreements they have usually been resolved by someone backing down.

LT-14-01-Influences-on-Big-Local-areas.pdf - page 55/73 - `we dont want to spend �100k a year and …

`we dont want to spend �100k a year and then its gone, we want to be able to have money left at the end

LT-14-01-Influences-on-Big-Local-areas.pdf - page 56/73 - A tighter knit community: 10 interviewee…

A tighter knit community: 10 interviewees in nine areas, including six resident focus groups, explained that they hope as Big Local evolves it will `put the heart back into their community. For example, they mentioned having a `proud community and a `good reputation in future with `kids pleased they come from here. As part of being tighter knit, they hope to see more connections between people in the area and people more engaged with each other in future. The longer-term nature of Big Local was said by one locally trusted organisation interviewee to have `the potential to snowball as residents who were currently not engaged with it might, in time, see it as `something they want to get involved in supporting. Local ownership: five interviewees across six areas hope that, in future, Big Local will have led to residents feeling they have more ownership, including running organisations that have been set up by residents in the area. Alongside this, there is a hope that residents will feel that their views are important and it `doesnt matter where you live or your accent and that they will be making decisions and will be trusted, although some residents in one area are cautious about whether this will happen in practice. The issues in their area would improve: interviewees across areas frequently identified specific issues that they hope will improve as Big Local evolves. These reflect their priorities discussed in Chapter 3 and include:

LT-14-01-Influences-on-Big-Local-areas.pdf - page 57/73 - 5. Support for Big Local areas

5. Support for Big Local areas

LT-14-01-Influences-on-Big-Local-areas.pdf - page 58/73 - of other Big Local areas to see if someo…

of other Big Local areas to see if someone has the skill, knowledge or experience you could draw on.

LT-14-01-Influences-on-Big-Local-areas.pdf - page 59/73 - While not every area has a dedicated `Bi…

While not every area has a dedicated `Big Local worker, among those that do, the worker fulfils a range of support roles, most commonly project management and administration and coming up with new ideas. Many areas say they have received some support from somewhere else. For example, 31% have help coming up with new ideas from somewhere else and 29% have help with connections to other useful people or organisations. This other support comes from a variety of sources including residents, friends and family, other voluntary and community sector agencies and statutory organisations such as the NHS.

LT-14-01-Influences-on-Big-Local-areas.pdf - page 60/73 - `I think anyone who wants to get involve…

`I think anyone who wants to get involved in BL should go to one...it explains it...if you dont want people taking minutes put your dictaphone on the table and record it...Big Local are happy with that...as long as its clear and transparent. They usually also value the opportunity to meet people from other Big Local areas, commenting `its actually the talking, the networking thats valuable. They gave examples such as being reassured by seeing the different stages areas were at, taking part in a useful group session that had been arranged for areas at a similar stage, rather than from a similar geographical area, and being inspired by what other areas are doing such as taking over a shop, or making clothes and selling them. Similar views were expressed by residents in three areas and one locally trusted organisation that have visited other Big Local areas. Such visits are described as `enormously important and have helped residents to see that `there is no right way and that `were doing OK. Residents in one area that was considering getting a paid worker had valued seeing how the paid worker in another area was working to help them refine how they wanted one to `facilitate rather than take over and run it in their area. Residents and locally trusted organisations in two areas mentioned that people from their area have attended networking and learning events run by NANM on social media and on social investment. As well as the content of the event, the residents who attended, again say they appreciate meeting people from other areas who have experience and help them to make decisions. For example, residents in one area decided that it was possible to start to pay a resident, who had previously been volunteering their time, after discussing this with another Big Local area. This example illustrates the benefit of networking with other areas not only to stimulate ideas but also to confirm decisions. Locally trusted organisations for two areas mentioned that the steering groups have made use of external experts to help inform and guide them. These include for example, community banking experts and environmental experts. In a third area, the locally trusted organisation was planning to bring the local credit union in to meet with the steering group once they had a clearer idea of their plans.

LT-14-01-Influences-on-Big-Local-areas.pdf - page 61/73 - Volunteers Big Local worker Locally trus…

Volunteers Big Local worker Locally trusted organisation Meeting other Big Local areas

LT-14-01-Influences-on-Big-Local-areas.pdf - page 62/73 - area put this request in the context of …

area put this request in the context of their sense of responsibility and `fear of getting it wrong. Help with local authorities: residents in two areas would like support with working with their local authority. In one area, the residents want more help understanding the councils remit and what they can do with Big Local that is outside this remit, which they see as a `grey area. As they explained, where their aim is `as amorphous as "heart of the community", it is not easy to be clear about what the council is required to do to support that aim. The second area, where relationships between the residents and the local authority are fragile, residents want a third party such as Local Trust to be an advocate for them to help the council to `see we are worth helping. Sharing practice: Interviewees in two areas feel there is value in sharing practice. This included them sharing with other areas so they `dont make our mistake of using different questions to consult with different groups so they then cannot compare responses, and learning from other areas of what has worked well, what has worked less well and what have other areas done in what timescale. Someone to coordinate: residents in two areas (both in the final 50 areas) that do not have a paid worker feel that having someone paid to coordinate would help them. Managing relationships and expectations: residents in one area, and the locally trusted organisation in a second area, said they would like more support with managing the expectations of residents and managing difficult relationships in meetings, where residents are expressing negative views. The residents are conscious that, having consulted, residents in the community might ask for something, such as a train station or swimming pool, that is not achievable with the Big Local funding and they want to know how best to feed back that something is not possible. External experts: one locally trusted organisation considers that people in areas themselves should look outside of their area and `draw on very innovative people...and groups who are outside the Big Local area for guidance and inspiration. Social investment: in one area the locally trusted organisation feels more support on social investment would be helpful to get people to think about this when planning what to do with their funding. National brokerage: the paid worker in one area feels there would be benefit in Local Trust using its position nationally to leverage support from large corporate organisations. They could be asked to provide mentors or contribute some funds which could form a central pot and distributed to Big Local areas. Complex problems: the paid worker in one area feels more help is needed in working out how to address some of the very difficult and complex problems in an area such as unemployment. Practical support: an interviewee in an area that is moving into the plan delivery phase mentioned the need for support with project management and budgeting.

LT-14-01-Influences-on-Big-Local-areas.pdf - page 63/73 - types of support. There are mixed views …

types of support. There are mixed views on whether residents in these areas would value more help with producing a plan. While around a third would really like help with this, a similar proportion say they do not need it. Analysis of the responses from areas that launched at the three different time-points showed that those from the first 50 to be launched are less likely to want support with developing a plan (29% said `they would really like this or `this would be useful) than areas from the second 50 (77%) and third 50 (80%).

LT-14-01-Influences-on-Big-Local-areas.pdf - page 64/73 - N varies for each item ranging from 94 t…

N varies for each item ranging from 94 to 97 Source: Big Local residents survey 2013 A series of single response questions. Due to rounding, responses may not sum to 100

LT-14-01-Influences-on-Big-Local-areas.pdf - page 65/73 - 6. Conclusion

6. Conclusion

LT-14-01-Influences-on-Big-Local-areas.pdf - page 66/73 - where their manner and approach entail a…

where their manner and approach entail an appropriate balance of guiding and supporting and leading where needed. Where the rep has been less effective, for example in one area where there had been a break between one rep ending their involvement and a new one starting, there has been less progress. It appears that in some cases, the rep is needed as someone to get Big Local going, sometimes `chivvying resident volunteers to keep it on track. Different levels and types of support are needed in areas with more and less capacity, whether this is in confidence or time. However, this cannot be predicted by whether residents in an area have prior experience of community activity. In most areas the steering group is built on members of existing groups, but despite this previous experience to some extent they either lack time or confidence to manage a longer term programme with a large amount of funding and some find this a daunting responsibility. The flexible resource of an experienced rep, who can adapt to different circumstances, appears to have been an important and valued part of the model.

LT-14-01-Influences-on-Big-Local-areas.pdf - page 67/73 - The programme provides flexible funding …

The programme provides flexible funding so it could be argued that paying someone may be needed to get things going. However, there is no clear cut evidence that areas that have a paid worker have made more progress or were further into delivering their Big Local plan in the area and reaching their vision of making the area an even better place to live, compared to areas without a worker. For example, if you use reaching the stage of submitting the plan as a key measure of progress, of the five areas who were launched first, three had a worker and one of these had submitted their plan and had it endorsed while the other two had not. Two of the five areas who did not have a worker had submitted their plan and one had been endorsed. Nevertheless, areas who have a worker value this role and generally feel that they would not have made the progress they had without the worker. In other words, compared to other areas they might have been much further behind.

LT-14-01-Influences-on-Big-Local-areas.pdf - page 68/73 - so the perceived slowness (from a reside…

so the perceived slowness (from a resident perspective) may not be an issue. However there is a risk that Big Local will lose momentum in communities. At a local level, the actively involved residents have to manage the consequences which can include frustration from the wider community, and residents ending their active involvement in Big Local due to the lack of obvious progress. As the process is taking more time than was generally expected there may be value in ensuring that the likely timeframe is communicated to the wider community, alongside the reasons for this, and for there to be some shorter-term visible outcomes, clearly linked to Big Local, that the community can see.

LT-14-01-Influences-on-Big-Local-areas.pdf - page 69/73 - different individuals and groups in an a…

different individuals and groups in an area. Alongside this, the reps, locally trusted organisations and paid workers are also said to be using their networks to bring advice, guidance and ideas to the Big Local steering groups. This suggests that Big Local on the ground is, in some places, a catalyst to make connections between people and organisations. The connections between areas are developing as people attend spring events, learning events and visit other areas and have an opportunity to meet and learn from others experience. These opportunities are generally valued and could be said to be enhancing the networks of people across different Big Local areas. Residents having greater influence: the ability of residents to have influence over their area and what happens within it is likely to evolve over time. While there are some early signs of residents feeling empowered to be in control, such as in one area voting against councillors having voting rights in their partnership, there are also instances of residents feeling that their progress is being hindered by statutory organisations and having to comply with existing processes. There is also some evidence that residents are sometimes cautious about what they are allowed to do and over time it will be interesting to explore whether they move from feeling they need to seek permission to feeling more empowered to lead and direct change in their area. At this stage there is no clear evidence of the residents generally having greater influence, but it is apparent that some see this as a future goal and believe Big Local can help them to have more of a voice in future.

LT-14-01-Influences-on-Big-Local-areas.pdf - page 70/73 - Appendix A:

Appendix A:

LT-14-01-Influences-on-Big-Local-areas.pdf - page 71/73 - Appendix B: Map of 14 sample areas

Appendix B: Map of 14 sample areas

LT-14-01-Influences-on-Big-Local-areas.pdf - page 72/73 - Appendix C: Additional charts

Appendix C: Additional charts

LT-14-01-Influences-on-Big-Local-areas.pdf - page 73/73 - Local Trust

Local Trust