Brookside Big Local – sharing stories of success

Brookside Big Local
Artist - Thomas Chalk
| 23/09/25

In 2019 a team from Brookside Big Local in Telford attended a Local Trust Measuring Change workshop facilitated by Just Ideas. Since then Just Ideas – led by Richard Usher – has worked alongside the Brookside Big Local partnership on a range of projects. It was great to return for a ‘Telling Our Story’ workshop in July 2025: an opportunity to reflect and celebrate achievements, bringing resident volunteers old and new to get together to review and capture the impact and difference made since the launch of the Big Local in 2015.

“We’ve really enjoyed working with Brookside Big Local partnership over the last six years and how people have engaged with sessions that bring out creativity and space for everyone to contribute!”

Richard Usher, Director of Just Ideas

Community event coming!

During the workshop there was a particular focus for Brookside Big Local to be able to tell the story of the positive change achieved at a ‘wrap up’ event with the community. The event is also an opportunity to demonstrate how Brookside Big Local has connected people and organisations: getting all partners involved, making it about the whole community. The Big Local partnership has focussed on creating a safe, inclusive and welcoming space including through events such as community fireworks and food provision including a community fridge.

The four themes identified for the achievements were:

  • Improving the local environment and area
  • Engaging with young people
  • Outdoor events bringing people together
  • Supporting mental health in the community

The session’s outputs – summarising themes from the Big Local’s achievements – were captured brilliantly in the graphic featured here by our associate Thomas Chalk, another way of sharing the difference that Brookside Big Local has made.

“Thanks for leading this. The session really helped cement the difference the programme has made and did a lot of good in terms of engagement and morale.”

Tim Edwards, Consultant to Brookside Big Local

Find out more

At Just Ideas, facilitation is at the heart of what we do, bringing people together to think clearly, act collectively, and make change happen.

Find out more about our approach and examples of our facilitation and graphical recording in action here:
👉 https://just-ideas.co.uk/services/facilitation/