Long term support and infrastructure: thinking beyond short-term funding cycles, enabling communities and letting go of control

How do people experience the long-term nature of programmes like Big Local, what support do communities need to lead change, and how does this evolve over time? This session explores the role of support infrastructure in Big Local, alongside the funder experience of devolving power – including reflections on when Local Trust had to step in. 

What are the benefits and challenges of long-term funding, and how have endings been managed? This session explores the pros and cons of long-term approaches, alongside practical reflections on how smaller funders can adopt a longer-term mindset – even within shorter funding cycles – and what support, sustainable change and good endings can look like.