How trust, resident leadership and community ownership have helped bring lasting change to two Wolverhampton neighbourhoods.
On 21 October 2026, 16 representatives from public sector organisations, West Midlands Funders Network (WMFN) members and voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations visited Scotlands and Bushbury Hill in Wolverhampton. Part of WMFN’s Big Local Legacy and Learning Programme, delivered in partnership with Heart of England Community Foundation and supported by Local Trust, the visit explored how long-term investment, trusted relationships and resident-led decision-making had helped communities respond to local challenges and build a lasting legacy.
Through conversations with community leaders and residents, participants heard how the approach to Big Local had evolved, the importance of putting residents at the centre of decisions and what the experience could teach organisations supporting place-based investment.
Building trust and putting residents at the centre
Scotlands and Bushbury Hill are neighbouring communities that have historically experienced significant deprivation, inequalities, limited access to local services and a lack of interaction between residents. Although both areas had active community organisations, residents had experienced previous investment initiatives where decisions were made externally and the benefits had not always lasted.
During an opening conversation facilitated by WMFN Chair Steven Simpson, local community development workers Louisa and Kim reflected on the importance of rebuilding trust and creating opportunities for residents to take greater control over decisions affecting their neighbourhoods.
Rather than consulting residents about predetermined projects, their approach centred on open conversations, listening to people’s experiences and enabling residents to identify what needed to change. This involved building relationships with families and connecting with schools, community hubs, neighbourhood offices, faith organisations and other local institutions, recognising that people’s needs and experiences rarely fit neatly within individual services or funding programmes.
Regular community events, including carnivals, social gatherings and activities for young people, older residents and women, also helped bring people together. These provided opportunities to build relationships, develop confidence and strengthen involvement in community life.
The experience highlighted the importance of building trust through time, consistency and genuine relationships, rather than treating community engagement as a one-off exercise or a means of securing support for decisions already made.
A turning point: saving a valued community asset
A particularly significant moment came with the proposed closure of the Big Venture Centre, an important community asset. The threat of losing the centre galvanised residents and community members into action.
They came together to establish a partnership through WV10 and work towards transferring the asset into community ownership. This became an important catalyst for wider community participation and leadership. What began as a response to the potential loss of a building developed into a shared commitment to protecting local resources and strengthening residents’ influence over the future of their neighbourhoods.
The experience demonstrated the importance of community assets beyond their physical presence. They provide spaces where people can come together, access support and organise around shared priorities. Protecting the Big Venture Centre also illustrated how a shared challenge could create opportunities for residents to work together and take a more active role in shaping their community.
Seeing the legacy in practice
The visit included opportunities to explore local community assets, including the Big Venture Centre and Fifth Avenue Community Centre, alongside community activities, resident businesses and charity shops based in the centres.
These facilities demonstrate how investment in community infrastructure, alongside the development of local leadership and organisational capacity, can support continuing activities and services beyond the lifetime of a funding programme.
Participants also heard from women and their families about the value of holistic support, including the confidence gained to speak about what was needed in their area. Their experiences highlighted a greater sense of local ownership and shared belonging, as well as the importance of creating opportunities for people to articulate their needs and contribute to decisions about their communities.
Together, these examples offered a practical insight into the different dimensions of legacy: the community spaces and facilities that remain, the relationships developed through shared activity and the confidence residents gain in influencing their local environment.
What this means for funders and public bodies
The experience of Scotlands and Bushbury Hill highlighted several considerations for organisations supporting place-based investment.
Invest in relationships, not just projects. Building trust and confidence requires time, consistency and people who understand and are trusted by their communities. These relationships are fundamental to meaningful participation.
Enable residents to lead. Meaningful participation goes beyond consultation. Communities need opportunities to identify priorities, influence decisions and shape solutions that reflect their experiences and aspirations.
Recognise the importance of community connections. Social activities, informal networks and relationships with local institutions help bring people together, strengthen involvement and create opportunities for collective action.
Support holistic approaches. Families and communities experience interconnected challenges. Working relationships between community organisations, schools, local institutions and services can help provide support that reflects the wider circumstances people face.
Plan for sustainability. Community ownership of assets, local leadership and organisational capacity all have a role in helping communities sustain activities and services beyond the lifetime of a funding programme.
Looking beyond the funding
The experience of Scotlands and Bushbury Hill illustrates that the legacy of place-based investment extends beyond the projects and facilities it supports. It is also reflected in the relationships built, the confidence developed and the opportunities created for residents to influence decisions affecting their neighbourhoods.
For funders and public bodies, this means recognising the time and commitment required to build those foundations, and ensuring that investment supports not only immediate activity but also the people, relationships and community infrastructure needed to sustain change.
Ultimately, lasting legacy is about creating the conditions in which communities have the confidence, connections and opportunities to shape their own futures.
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