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FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions about Sompting Big Local

Who decided where the Big Local boundary should be?

Many factors were taken into account by Local Trust and the National Lottery when the boundaries were agreed. Originally Sompting Big Local’s area didnt include the ‘Old’ Village but this was later changed.

Why is my road not in the Big Local area?

Residents and groups from outside the Big Local area can still benefit from Big Local as long as the main beneficiaries are from within the area. There has to be a boundary, and Local Trust and the National Lottery used the Office for National Statistics Lower Super Output Areas which are pre-defined geographical areas. The fact that your road is not within the Big Local boundary need not mean that you miss out, particularly if you use or want to provide services within the boundary.

How will I know what is going on?

Sompting Big Local want to keep residents up-to-date with what is going on. We have a monthly e-newsletter, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram account.

Why should I bother about Big Local?

We have had so many projects that are here to day and gone tomorrow. Big Local is different because its time frame is ten years and it is fully funded to the tune of £1million. Local people have to come up with the ideas, put together the plan of action and make sure it is delivered. It is not about an organisation coming in and telling us what we need to achieve to get the money and it wont be all change after two or three years. Key aims are sustainability; encouraging an enterprising approach to community activity; getting more people involved with the confidence to shape how the community looks and feels; and being able to make a real difference for the better. A parallel programme is called Star People and is aimed at encouraging people with enterprising ideas to benefit the community. Awards start at £500 and go up to £15,000.

How can I find out what goes on at Resident-led Partnership meetings?

We hold meeting monthly, with minutes published on this site. At the moment we conduct all our meetings on Zoom.

Why is it such a long programme?

Big Local can run for 10 years or longer.  It is about more people becoming more involved in the life of the community, with more confidence to shape how the community looks and feels, and being able to make a real difference for the better. That cannot be done quickly. It would be possible to change some things in a couple of years but they wouldn’t be guaranteed to last. To make a lasting difference we need as much time as possible to do things to give local residents time to try out a few new things, decide what works best and then to make sure the changes stick.

When will the plan be published / approved?

Our 1st plan was approved in 2014 and we received our 1st part of the money in October 2014, our second plan ran until March 2020, although with Covid 19 this was extended to June 2020. When a new 1 year plan was approved. 

How will decisions on what goes into the Big Local plan be made?

The Resident-led Partnership will decide based on the area profile, results of consultations, the Partnership’s vision for the area and with the advice of the Big Local rep and in dialogue with Local Trust

What can I do if I do not agree with what is being put forward in the Big Local Plan?

You can contact the Big Local rep or the Resident-led Partnership. However, there are only limited resources available and ultimately the decision on what goes into the plan will be made based on a prioritisation, weighing up evidence of need and viability.

Who is going to judge whether Big Local has made a difference and how are they going to do it?

The residents and other groups will be involved in evaluating the project throughout and beyond the ten years, and part of that will be being able to see and feel the evidence on the ground.

Who is in charge of the Big Local money

Local Trust, a national charity, holds the money currently. However, once the plan has been agreed it will be released to our Locally Trusted Organisation (LTO). Our current LTO is Community Works who will act as treasurer to the Resident-led Partnership providing Local Trust with regular and independently verified reports and accounts.

I've got a good idea for a project, can I get some money to help me get it started?

We welcome any suggestions from Residents to improve the area. Please get in touch.

I have an idea for a project but there is already another group doing it. I think I will do it better than the other group, will I get any money? It depends on what new ideas you have, whether they fit in with the Big Local plan and whether they will bring additional benefits that are wanted by sufficient people to justify the investment of Big Local funds.

Are there things Big Local won’t fund?

Big Lottery Fund money must be used in ways that is additional to and/or adds value to national and local government funded activities. This means that Big Local funds should not be used as a substitute for funding that would normally fall into mainstream government spending. And while we will welcome ideas for community projects from faith-based organisations, we will not fund religious activities.

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