A new regional partnership will bring the learning and legacy of Big Local to funders, communities and civic leaders across the West Midlands, building on similar programmes already underway in London and other regions.
Heart of England Community Foundation (HoECF) and West Midlands Funders Network (WMFN) are pleased to announce a new partnership with Local Trust to design and deliver a Big Local Legacy and Learning Programme for the West Midlands region.
Big Local invested over £217 million across 150 areas in England, enabling residents to lead lasting change in their own neighbourhoods over more than a decade. As the programme reaches its conclusion, Local Trust is working with regional partners to ensure its insights and experience are captured, shared and put to work by the sector.
This new regional initiative will create space for honest conversations about what worked, what did not, and what funders, commissioners, civil society and communities can take forward. At a time when neighbourhood working, prevention, devolution and community power are climbing the agenda, the West Midlands programme offers a timely opportunity to learn directly from communities who have been leading change on the ground for over a decade.
The West Midlands programme, which launches this spring, will connect funders, statutory bodies, community leaders and civil society organisations with the people and places at the heart of Big Local. It will sit within a wider national learning initiative, joining programmes already in development in London and other regions, and will culminate in WMFN’s annual conference in October 2026.
Tina Costello OBE, Chief Executive, Heart of England Community Foundation
“Big Local represents one of the most ambitious experiments in resident-led funding this country has seen. As a place-based funder rooted in the West Midlands for over 30 years, we know how much the lessons of this programme matter for the future of our communities. We are proud to be leading this work alongside WMFN and Local Trust, and we look forward to sharing more about what this programme will offer.”
Steven Simpson, Chair of Trustees, West Midlands Funders Network
“For over 40 years, WMFN has brought together the funders who shape what is possible across the West Midlands. Big Local has generated extraordinary learning about long-term, community-led investment, and we believe that learning is essential for our members and the wider sector. This partnership is a real opportunity to ensure it reaches the people and organisations who can act on it.”
What to expect from the programme
- A series of online and in-person learning sessions across the West Midlands, with a focus on relevant sub-regional strengths and issues.
- Contributions from Big Local residents and delivery partners, alongside Local Trust and sub-regional VCFSE infrastructure partners.
- Opportunities for funders, commissioners and community organisations to reflect and learn together.
Sessions will explore key themes drawn from the Big Local experience, including:
- How long-term, community-led work can shift systems, strengthen cross-sector relationships, and demonstrate the impact of placing residents at the centre of decision-making.
- How place and existing social infrastructure shape outcomes at neighbourhood level.
- Approaches to inclusion, participation and representation in community-led work.
- How resident-led, grassroots action and flexible funding can help overcome barriers and support communities across the region to thrive.
Register your interest
The programme is currently in development and is expected to launch in June/July 2026. To be among the first to hear about sessions, events and how to get involved, pre-register your interest at:
Notes to editors
About Heart of England Community Foundation
Heart of England Community Foundation is a registered charity and the leading independent grant-making foundation in the West Midlands and Warwickshire. Since 1995, the Foundation has awarded over £50 million in grants to more than 13,000 community projects and organisations across the region.
About West Midlands Funders Network
West Midlands Funders Network is the region’s only cross-sector membership network for organisations and individuals who fund communities across the West Midlands. For over 40 years, the Network has convened a diverse range of funders, supporting more informed and effective funding decisions through events, peer learning, data exchange and collaborative working.
About Local Trust
Local Trust is the organisation that managed Big Local, a long-term programme investing over £217 million in 150 areas across England between 2011 and 2026. Local Trust supports Big Local areas and shares learning about what it takes to create lasting change from the ground up.
This programme is supported through Big Local which is administered by Local Trust for the National Lottery Community Fund