Wargrave Big Local

A community-led, lottery-funded project near St Helens in Merseyside is celebrating a decade of making a difference to peoples’ lives.

Wargrave is a district of Newton-le-Willows, to the east of St Helens. Wargrave Big Local is a Lottery funded project set up in 2015 that covers 3000 households. It is one of 150 Big Local projects across England, supported by Local Trust, which were awarded with over £1m to spend over 10 years.

For nearly 10 years the project has had a huge impact within the local area and is set to provide a lasting legacy:

• A resilient partnership – working together and supporting each other
• Wargrave Community Hub Employment Support – Job Club/ DWP services are used and valued
• A Wargrave Community Hub Employment Support – Job Club/ DWP services are used and valued
• Regular events for families – such as Breakfast with Santa, Halloween and family coach trips
• Community Chest Grants – providing support for local groups
• Food and holiday hunger support – to tackle the cost of living crisis

The Wargrave Partnership is supported by Groundwork CLM who act as their Local Trusted Organisation. Our role is to provide advice and support and to ensure that funding and regulatory obligations are met. However, all of the decisions about how funds are spent are made by the 8 local residents who act as the Partnership Board.

The partnership is currently delivering its final 12 month plan which will take it up to the of the project later this year. The key priorities are identified as:

• Employment and Skills
• Health and Wellbeing
• Community Events
• Legacy and Resilience – including green space projects & larger grants
• Community Chest Grants – smaller grants up to £1,000

It is a pleasure to work together as residents to improve our lives and outcomes.

Louise – Chair of Partnership Board