Somerset Local Development Scheme (Feb 2025)
Sets out Somerset’s programme for preparing local planning documents that govern housing, economy, community facilities and infrastructure – providing the statutory context for community development and place-based investment decisions.
Unlocking the potential of Big Local partnerships
This report explores the role and impact of Locally Trusted Organisations (LTOs) in the Big Local programme, which empowers residents in 150 areas in England to lead community transformation. LTOs manage funding, provide governance, and support resident-led decision-making. The research highlights the dynamic and complex relationships between LTOs, Big Local partnerships, and Local Trust, emphasizing the importance of trust, clear communication, and effective governance. Recommendations include improving induction processes, regular relationship reviews, and sharing transferable learning to support resident-led change beyond Big Local.
The report advocates for sustained policy and infrastructure support for community-led initiatives
Local Trust – Delivering Big Local: The Role of Locally Trusted Organisations
The Big Local programme uses key service providers, known as Locally Trusted Organisations. Their main role is to manage Big Local funding on behalf of volunteer-led partnerships. This paper sets out what Local Trust knows about Locally Trusted Organisations in general and in relation to resident-led decision making and control. It identifies gaps in knowledge and questions to explore through research. This is mostly focused on instances where the relationship does not work.
Stronger Together – A co-production toolkit
A complete toolkit that explores what co-production is, information on 5 key themes – collaboration, diversity, respect, empowerment and involvement. This document has links to further documents and resources that may be useful for those who are exploring their co-production journey and how to include people from their community within their organisation(s) or service(s).
Stronger Together – Developing a co-commissioning model
A learning guide for anyone involved in commissioning or funding decisions who wants to apply a co-governance approach. Includes examples and links to further resources to learn more.
Stronger Together – Co-production in research
A learning guide for anyone wanting to use a co-production approach within research or evaluation activities. Includes key recommendations, an example and further resources that may be useful
Stronger Together – Increasing diversity and inclusion
A learning guide for anyone who wants to ensure their co-production work involves a diverse range of voices where everyone can participate
Stronger Together – How to grow sustainable groups
A learning guide for growing sustainable groups, designed for anyone who wants to support a community group to grow and develop in a way that is sustainable and not reliant on external funding
Stronger Together – Creating a co-production culture
A learning guide to create a co-production culture. If you’re part of an organisation that wants to foster a culture of co-production – where people’s lived experiences are listening to and valued – this is the guide for you. An explanation of what it means to create a co-production culture and examples of how this has been achieved elsewhere
Stronger Together – Principles & values of co-production
A learning guide exploring the key principles of co-production. For anyone looking to move beyond the definition of co-production and dig deeper into the principles and values that underpin the approach.