Leaving A Legacy
Windmill Hill Big Local 2014 – 25
A resident-led, lottery funded project in Runcorn is celebrating over 10 years of changing places and changing lives.
In 2013, Windmill Hill, Runcorn, received £1 million from the Lottery Fund’s Big Local programme to improve the community. The Big Local partnership, supported by various agencies, was formed to manage the programme and implement projects.
Groundwork CLM was designated as the Locally Trusted Organisation (LTO). As the programme, which concludes in August 2025, approaches its end, the partnership has reviewed its 10-year impact.
Some key achievements are highlighted below.
St Berts Community Hub
Opened February 2024, this fully accessible community space includes a commercial kitchen. It is used daily by a variety of groups, hosting everything from archery and advice surgeries, to ukulele classes and is also available for community hire.
Improved connectivity with services
Since 2016, £650k of debt has been written off and local people have accessed over £350k in additional benefits. Just the Citizens Advice Bureau alone has supported over 600 people with over 6000 issues.
Setting up a Youth Club
Through a partnership with Vibe, a Youth Club was created which currently has 144 registered members. Funding has also been identified to continue this vital and popular service.
Events and Activities
Regular events like coach trips, craft clubs, photography classes and community lunches help bring the community together. Increasing community engagement has reduced isolation, built confidence, improved wellbeing and connected different generations.
Community Leadership Academy (CLA)
This academy is a unique feature of skills development within the project. So far, 2 partnership volunteers have completed CLA training, which has helped them to develop their leadership and communication skills that will be used to benefit the local community.
Community pride
Regular litter picking events, including use of canal fishing magnets have helped to improve streets, woodlands and waterways in the area. Volunteers working to remove litter in Windmill Hill Woods have since secured the contract with the Woodland Trust to deliver this work commercially.
