What was Big Local Thurnscoe?
For 10 years between 2014 and 2024, Big Local Thurnscoe helped to make Thurnscoe a better place to live.
Big Local Thurnscoe listened to the community’s ideas and was bold about creating positive changes for and with the people of Thurnscoe.
Big Local Thurnscoe was one of 150 Big Local areas across England. Areas were given £1m of funding from the National Lottery Community Fund. Local residents made decisions about what was most important to Thurnscoe and how to spend the money.
Thurnscoe Regeneration is the legacy organisation for Big Local Thurnscoe. We want to build on what’s come before and continue to create a better future for our village.
Highlights
What we achieved together as a community
Listen to people talk about what Big Local Thurnscoe means to them and their vision for Thurnscoe in the future.
Bringing people together
Big Local Thurnscoe organised many memorable events that brought the community together, young and old, including:
- Dinosaur Day at Phoenix Park in 2018 – featuring a huge animatronic T- Rex
- Building the Future – with over 400 people exploring the Lumini structure
- Beach parties and picnics in the park
- Halloween Spooktaculars
- Christmas Light switch ons
- VE Day anniversary events
Improving community spaces and facilities
The biggest legacy of all is the Community Plaza, a space where young people can play on bikes, scooters and skateboards and a place where we can come together for community events.
Other projects included:
- a children’s play area with new equipment
- an outdoor gym and leisure equipment at the Sports Ground
- 420 trees planted and a new pond dipping platform at Thurnscoe Reservoir
- new Christmas lights
- new planters, raised beds, wildflower areas and hanging baskets
- a life-saving defibrillator
- Go Wild sculpture trail working with artist Fabric Lenny and schools and community groups
- a community mosaic project with artist Frances Taylor
They also bought and refurbished two houses that had fallen into disrepair, working with apprentices. Four apprentices went on to jobs in the construction industry.
“The great thing about Big Locals is that they’re all different. In Thurnscoe they’ve taken over two houses that were derelict, in disrepair and dragging the neighbourhood down. You’ve now got homes for local people… it has improved the street and most of all this project has provided on-site training for apprentices and some of them have got jobs from it as well. It’s exactly what Big Local is all about.”
Supporting small businesses
Big Local Thurnscoe supported enterprise in Thurnscoe and people wanting to launch a new business or become self-employed.
They offered small business grants and free places on Launchpad Barnsley’s business school courses, and other training workshops.
Supporting the community through the pandemic
Big Local Thurnscoe came together and supported residents and community groups through the pandemic, including:
- Emergency food boxes
- Holiday hampers in the summer holidays
- Feed the birds activity packs
- Let it Shine – cleaning hampers
- Supported over 50 businesses and community groups with grants
What’s the legacy of Big Local Thurnscoe?
Big Local Thurnscoe harnessed the skills, ambitions and energy of individuals and organisations in Thurnscoe who want to make it a better place to live.
It wouldn’t have been possible without the commitment of the many volunteers, community groups and partners that worked together.