Big Local areas boosted by land partnership

Local Trust and Shared Assets have joined forces to help communities own and manage land.

The two organisations have announced a new partnership to support 150 Big Local areas in England with advice and opportunities to help transform and manage parks, woodlands and green spaces.

The Big Local scheme is a resident-led programme, which has invested £1m in 150 areas across England that have missed out on previous funding programmes.

Local Trust has been working with these areas to help people make their communities even better pleases to live, while Shared Assets is a social enterprise that aims to make land work for everyone.

The partnership will map the achievements of the communities involved in the Big Local programme and examine the challenges they face when they want to own or manage land.

It will offer residents from the 150 areas a chance to come together and learn from each other at a one-day event in London on 29 November, called Unlocking the potential of land, which will look at the opportunities, possibilities and challenges of land management.

And later in the year, Local Trust will be launch an open call for Big Local groups who would like to access the new support package from Shared Assets, which will be paid for in part by the Big Local area and match-funded by Local Trust.

‘After five years delivering change in their communities, many Big Local areas are getting more ambitious, and taking on bigger and more complex local projects,’ said Local Trust chief executive, Matt Leach.

‘Many residents have asked for help with questions about land, assets and leaving a lasting impact. We’re really excited that this work with Shared Assets will broaden the range of expert support available to Big Local areas. It’s about helping local people achieve their ambitions.’

Executive director of Shared Assets, Mark Walton, added: ‘Connecting our knowledge and experience of working with land projects across the UK with the Big Local Area communities represents a great opportunity for learning on both sides.

‘We are excited to work with Local Trust to develop innovative solutions for lasting community benefit through engagement with land.’

• Groups that are interested or want to be involved should get in touch with Local Trust. For more information on the event itself, contact Hannah Gardiner at Hannah@sharedassets.org.uk.