Date/Time: Wednesday 24 June 2026, 10:30am–12:30pm
Format: Online (link sent on registration) Cost: Free
About this event
Big Local backed 150 communities across England to lead change on their own terms. The infrastructure organisations that supported that work built up a body of knowledge about what resident-led governance actually requires, and this session brings that knowledge into the room.
Drawing on the direct experience of Big Local areas in the West Midlands, the session explores different models of infrastructure support, how organisations adapted their approach to build genuine local ownership, and what the process of devolving decision-making power to residents looks like in practice.
Case studies come from WCAVA, which supported Big Local areas in Nuneaton and Bedworth, and Welsh House Farm Big Local in Birmingham, where a consultant helped three legacy organisations become operational CICs while navigating complex community relationships.
Speakers include Alison Thompson (WCAVA) and Maxine Ricketts (Local Trust), with facilitated discussion and breakout time built in.
You will come away with:
A clearer picture of different infrastructure support models and when each is appropriate
Practical approaches to shifting decision-making power to residents
Insight into managing partnership conflict and building recovery
Who should attend:
This session is open to anyone working in or around place-based and neighbourhood change. It will be particularly relevant to VCSE infrastructure bodies, local authorities, place-based funders, and practitioners involved in community governance or organisational development.
Delivered by West Midlands Funders Network and Heart of England Community Foundation, in partnership with Local Trust.