Local Trust is a United Kingdom-based nonprofit organisation dedicated to enabling and supporting community-led change in socially and economically disadvantaged areas. Registered as a charity under number 1147511, the organisation operates by placing power, resources, and decision-making into the hands of local residents to help transform and improve their communities and quality of life.

Mission and Activities

Local Trust focuses on developing the capacity and skills— including enterprise skills—of members of disadvantaged communities to better identify and meet their own needs both as individuals and collectively within their localities. This approach is centered on the belief that sustainable community development arises when residents have autonomy and control over decisions affecting their places[1].

The organisation supports 150 Big Local areas across England. Each Big Local partnership comprises residents who receive funding allocations of approximately £1 million per area, to be spent flexibly over 10–15 years. These funds are aimed at communities that have traditionally missed out on lottery and other funding sources. Local Trust’s role is to empower these groups to steward their projects, fostering long-term community leadership and development[2][5].

Key Programmes

The flagship initiative under Local Trust’s stewardship is the Big Local programme, which is funded by the National Lottery Community Fund. The programme encourages resident-led planning and action to tackle local challenges and improve neighbourhoods, with an emphasis on community ownership, capacity-building, and sustainability[5].

Local Trust also undertakes research, evaluation, and storytelling to capture the learning from Big Local initiatives. These insights are used to influence policy and practice at both local and national levels, advocating for a shift in how policymakers and funders engage with communities and places[3][4].

Organisational Structure

The organisation employs approximately 63 staff members and benefits from the contributions of over 1,000 volunteers. The governance is maintained by a board of 11 trustees. Among its employees, several receive salaries ranging from £60,000 to over £130,000, reflecting the organisation’s scale and responsibilities[1].

Philosophy and Impact

Local Trust’s philosophy underscores the importance of “trusting local people” as agents of change. The organisation aims to demonstrate the value of long-term, unconditional, resident-led funding. Its work promotes a wider transformation in community engagement by funders and policymakers, aiming to create more equitable and resilient places across the UK[3][4].

Residents involved in Big Local projects report increased agency, voice, and hope in their communities. Local Trust’s support enables volunteers and local leaders to act as catalysts for change, often in challenging economic and social contexts[2][5].

Local Trust represents a pioneering model in place-based philanthropy, affirming that empowering communities with resources and decision-making leads to meaningful, lasting improvements in neighbourhoods and lives.

[1] https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/about-the-register-of-charities/-/charity-details/5023941 [2] https://localtrust.org.uk [3] https://mycommunity.org.uk/local-trust [4] https://letschangetherules.org/organisations/local-trust [5] https://highrisecommunications.co.uk/case-studies/our-media-support-for-national-charity-local-trust/