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In this week's episode we speak to Jeff, Neil, Steve and Danny from Tonge with the Haulgh's Men's Shed project. The initiative connects retired men, offering them opportunities to work on projects, learn new skills and socialise – as well as providing essential social support, addressing loneliness and improving mental health. Despite being called …

A historic rural former market town, Winterton has always prided itself on being clean and green. Now, after working towards becoming an Incredible Edible community – where residents unite to grow and foster lasting connections through food – Winterton Big Local has taken a significant step towards realising its dream of creating a community orchar…

In this episode, we connect with John Cousins to delve into the journey of Sompton and Woolavington, the two communities that form Villages Together Big Local. Despite their differences, these communities have shared valuable lessons on addressing some of their toughest challenges, including isolation, lack of spaces for young families, and anti-so…

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Episode 1: The Legacy of Ewanrigg’s We Will Campaign by Local TrustBy Local Trust

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Send us a Text Message.By Mark Turnbull

I'm at ADS Truck Parking to meet the team and have a look at some of their fantastic facilities for drivers. They are doing a great job for drivers whether it's providing home cooked food, clean toilets or a friendly atmosphere to combat loneliness. They've successfully bid for £222,000 in government funding to further improve their facilities and …

Send us a Text Message. Hartlebury Castle was the home of the Bishops of Worcester for centuries. But in 2022, a chance meeting between historian, Doug Smith, and archaeologist, Tim Cornah led to a whirlwind excavation that brought the civil war back to Hartlebury. The sights, sounds and smell of the period were re-enactment by the Sealed Knot in J…

Send us a Text Message. I speak with Professor Cordelia Beattie about the remarkable manuscripts penned by Alice Thornton, a Yorkshire woman who lived through many key events of the 17th century. Though from a well-to-do family, she wasn't rich, and the war affected her in many ways. Cordelia and The Alice Thornton Project are studying Alice's memo…

Send us a Text Message. Historian John Sadler is my guest, speaking about the fates of the 5000 prisoners taken at the Battle of Dunbar and force marched across the border to Durham. Much of their story was forgotten until 2013, when a mass grave was discovered in the shadow of the world heritage site that is Durham Cathedral. Warwick Louth also re…

Send us a Text Message. I speak to Thomas Zugic, a captain in Lunsford's Regiment of the English Civil War Society, about a forthcoming re-enactment at Hylton Castle, Sunderland. ▪️Discover more about the ECWS ▪️Find out about this event, as well as some of Thomas's favourites ▪️Learn why Thomas thinks the capture of royalist Selby was a key event …

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Send us a Text Message. Warwick and I assess the battle record of The Great Montrose & ponder some fascinating 'what if' questions. Do we both agree? ▪️Which victory was his greatest? ▪️What might have happened if the king's cavalry had managed to link up with him after Naseby? ▪️How would he have fared in a pitched battle with Fairfax & Cromwell? …

In this episode of Don’t Get Any Ideas, Heather and George travel virtually to Cornwall to catch up with Jayne Downing to find out what the people of Par Bay did as part of Creative Civic Change. A poet herself, Jayne was a driving force behind ‘Poetry from Par Bay’ – a book created in 2020 as part of the Covid and Beyond Project with poetry from t…

In this episode of Don’t Get any Ideas, Heather and George travel toStoke to visit the Portland Inn Project to learn about how to imagineas a community what the next century might look like and whetherthe Portland Inn Project is successful in it’s application to ArtsCouncil England to be one of it’s regularly funded organisations.Guests:Rebecca Dav…

Send us a Text Message. Find out more about The Great Montrose & his 'year of miracles'. Montrose's latest biographer, Dominic Pearce, describes the man, his campaigns & relationship with Charles I & II. ▪️After a glorious year of miracles, what led to Montrose's defeat at Philiphaugh? ▪️Did Charles II knowingly send the marquis to his death? ▪️Dis…

Send us a Text Message. Scott Moore, creator of the boardgame 'This War Without an Enemy' joins me to discuss the game, and his interest in the civil wars. ▪️ Which childhood friend, and civil war historian, helped generate his interest in the period? ▪️ What are the different types of wargaming? ▪️ Which battle would both Scott and Warwick like to…

Send us a Text Message. Ian Beckett, a Vice-Chair of the John Hampden Society joins me to talk about this parliamentarian military and political leader. Known as for his civil war regiment of green coats, and opposition to Ship Money tax, Hampden has become an obscure and clouded figure through the centuries. ▪️What myths have grown up about John H…

Send us a Text Message. I chat to Simon Marsh, Battlefield and Threat Co-Ordinator for The Battlefields Trust about an exciting new project aimed at recording all civil war memorials and markers across the world. ▪️How can you get involved? ▪️Hear about some of the lesser-known memorials logged so far. ▪️Find out about the work of The Battlefields …

In this episode of Don’t Get any Ideas, Heather and George travel toEast Marsh in Grimsby to meet Josie Moon, local resident,community activist, writer, artist and choir leader. Tucked away inthe local market they discuss how Josie looks for the light in bleak times.Guest: Josie Moon, Community Activist, artist, writer and choir leaderHosts: Heathe…

In this episode of Don't Get Any Ideas, Heather and George travel to Walthamstow to visit William Morris Big Local who have working with local art group Wood Street Walls to discuss holding onto creative community spaces in London.Guests:Gabriel Edwards, Project Lead at William Morris Big LocalGeorgia Bonfield, Program Manager at William Morris Big…

Send us a Text Message. Stuart Pierson, of Wessex Archaeologist, who appeared on BBC's 'Digging for Britain' joins me to discuss this amazing discovery. The episode brings you the very latest news about the site and its future, and explores the history of Coleshill Manor. I also chat to Warwick Louth, qualified conflict and battlefield archaeologis…

For the last episode of series two of The community power podcast, we talk to the chair of Scotlands Bushbury Hill Big Local who was awarded an MBE last year for her outstanding service in and to the community. She chats to Chris about her 11-year Big Local journey, including the difference between what she imagined she and her community would be a…

When Sue Merriman, worker at Brereton Million Big Local, first took their idea of a wellbeing campaign to the district council they weren't convinced it was possible. Two years later, they've worked together to launch a free health and wellbeing app which takes users through eight aspects of wellbeing and points them towards local providers that ca…

John went from writing fairy stories for his daughter, to being given homework at the age of 76 as part of a local writing group. Now, he's one of several locally published authors who've come through the Firs and Bromford Big Local writing group. We chat to John, author of 'It's been reported', and fellow author and leader of the writing club Phil…

In this episode, we explore the unexpected power of pom poms with Dave Roberts and Shona Gilsenan, who are both workers at East Coseley Big Local. They tell us all about their simple and creative project Pom-Poms 4 Loneliness. On a mission to end loneliness, this project is creating impressive and far-reaching ripple effects - including an increasi…

From supporting food services out of a bus to transforming an old police station into a community hub, there's a few things Eastern Sheppey Big Local know about creating valuable community spaces. In this episode of The community power podcast, we chat to Daniel Perriam and Emma Dunnicliffe about how they got involved with Eastern Sheppey Big Local…

Send us a Text Message. I speak to Jennifer Kewley Draskau (Senior research Fellow - University of Liverpool) who has written a book about Charlotte, Countess of Derby. The Earl of Derby owned Lathom, and garrisoned it for King Charles I's cause in the Civil War. His wife conducted its defence during the siege of 1644. Why myths surround Lady Derby…

In this episode, Northfleet Big Local resident Peter Scollard shares how his ability to talk to people and think in a resident-led way has enabled him to become a different type of local leader. From working the fruit and veg markets as a child, to being elected the Mayor of Gravesham, his journey is worth listening to.As always, the Community Powe…

In this episode of Don’t Get Any Ideas, Heather and George begin in Corby, home to George, Helen’s workplace and Heather’s childhood home. As part of their work with the Creative Kingston and Hazel Leys Creative Civic Change project, they have been regularly taking time throughout to hover above the intense work and talk about what is important to …

In this episode of Don’t Get any Ideas, Heather and George travel toKensington in Liverpool to meet Michaela and Steve at the Croissantof Inequality, and record their podcast at their amazing communityradio station, Liverpool Community Radio. They talk about the powerof telling your own story.Guests:Steve Faragher, Independent Community ActivistMic…

In this epsiode, we are joined by SO18 Big Local chair Kim Ayling and Michelle McCarthy from the organisation NVR South.They share with us their personal experience of having challenging relationships with their children and how NVR training has dramatically helped them rebuild those relationships - a training programme they are now rolling out loc…

In this week's episode of The community power podcast, Laurie White from Noel Park Big Local shares how they've transformed a shipping container into a training hub that's already getting local young people into employment.You can find out more about Noel Park Big Local's activities here: http://www.noelparkbiglocal.co.uk/about-us/And you can watch…

In this week's episode we chat to George Hill from Creative Kingswood and Hazel Leys and Anna Francis from the Portland Inn Project - about their experience of being part of our sister programme, Creative Civic Change. Find out more about Creative Civic Change here: https://localtrust.org.uk/other-programmes/creative-civic-change/Learn more about C…

In this episode, we talk to Lawrence O'Halleron (Big Local chair) and Chris Folwell (Big Local worker) from Gateshead Big Local about their local cycling club, Teams Wheelers - and how it's opened up some opportunities for them to be part of an upcoming riverside regeneration scheme.You can find out more about Gateshead Big Local via their website …

In this episode of The community power podcast, we speak to Freda Eyden and Ralph Rudden, co-chairs of Our Sale West - a Big Local based in Greater Manchester.They share their experience of setting up and running a schools climate crisis conference and how they are using their experience of Covid-19 to respond to the cost of living crisis.You can f…

The first episode of our brand-new series was recorded at our annual Big Local conference Connects and highlights how community organisations are navigating the cost of living crisis. We discuss the support available through the Cost of Living Alliance, with Community Organisers CEO Nick Gardham: https://www.costofliving-alliance.org/We also talk t…

In the final episode of the series, we are looking back at some of the best bits with Local Trust CEO Matt Leach. Thanks to all of our guests this series, we will be back for more of The community power podcast later this year.In the meantime, you can find out more about Big Local here: About Big Local - Local TrustAnd the Community Wealth Fund her…

Grace Mary to Lion Farm Big Local share how they've united young people from across several neighbourhoods to make where they live a better place, including two of the young people involved - Lewis and Nick. Watch their award-winning video, featuring their mascot Gracie, here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sr-ozXae3fU…

What can be done when a community has lost the spark it used to have? Debbie Stephens and Suey Lee from L30's Million Big Local, share how they rekindled community pride through a focus on strengthening local people and assets. Watch Health and Wellbeing Connector Suey in action here: https://www.facebook.com/l30smillion/videos/1054520775086997/…

What happens when you make the space for adults to create, play, fail and try again in the way we do as children? Hannah and Liz, from Make Space Cornwall CIC, share the benefits they have seen since encouraging their community to express themselves through art projects. Find out more about Make Space Cornwall here: https://www.makespacecornwall.co…

Getting young people to volunteer for their community is no mean feat. Heston West Big Local share how they've inspired their diverse and youthful community to take action in this week's episode of The community power podcast. Find out more about Heston West here: https://www.hestonwest.org/By Local Trust

Sports and wellbeing enthusiast Luke Freer, shares the power of trusted, local and passionate people when it comes to turning around health inequalities within a community.Watch The Cars area's short video on their successful health and wellbeing activity Bowls, Biscuits & Coffee here: https://www.facebook.com/TheCarsAreaSmithsWood/videos/207211813…

Two years on from the pandemic, Mark Mitchell from Brinnington Big Local shares how the community rallied around to provide an emergency response effort - including addressing food poverty through their project 'cooking up a storm'.Learn more about Brinnington Big Local here: http://brinningtonbiglocal.co.uk/…

‘Everybody wants good for themselves, but the good ones are those who want good for others’. Inspired by her father’s ethos, Imrana Niazi joined Palfrey Big Local and quickly became a powerful leader within her community – delivering innovative youth violence and victim support programmes across Walsall.You can find out more about the iMatter progr…

Ambition Lawrence Weston are the proud owners of the largest wind turbine in England. However, this national project came from humble beginnings, when our guest Mark Pepper and the rest of Lawrence Weston Big Local, decided to make climate change real for their community in North Bristol. You can find out more about Ambition Lawrence Weston’s work …

Through the simple power of listening, Ewanrigg Big Local have transformed mental health support and awareness in their remote, Cumbrian town of Maryport. Big Local residents and worker - Sharon, Jaz, and Kate - tell us more about the success of their HUG A MUG initiative and We Will campaign.Find out more about all of Ewanrigg Big Local's projects…