What will Westfield and Radstock look like in 2013? How could the area benefit from £1 million? And what would you do if you had £1 million to spend for the benefit of the community you live in?

These questions and more were debated at the Big Local Westfield and Radstock meeting held last Wednesday evening in the refurbished Victoria Hall. Many residents and local groups came to hear the latest news from the steering group, which has been working on ideas for how to spend the coveted £1 million Lottery money available to both Westfield and Radstock.

Whilst the group has been criticised in the past for not 'getting on with it', the process is a complicated one and the Steering group have to go through a series of stages before the money can be released. Results from the community questionnaire, distributed to residents in Westfield and Radstock by the Big Local Steering group, show that ideas for the million include improving services for younger people, supporting local business, making green spaces better, providing facilities and clubs for older people and to invest in local transport issues.

At the meeting, the 'Dragon's Den' awards project was launched – where ten awards of £500 are available to local people or community groups who can come up with an idea with which to make Radstock and Westfield a better place to live. Whilst £500 doesn't sound like a lot of money, this is the whole point of the Big Local fund – primarily, it is about getting the most out of the £1 million and investing it to make the money go further, so, no idea is too small or too big – small ideas could have one-off grants for £500, but larger ideas could attract match funding, available possibly from other resources – who knows, the idea could even be worth a chunk of the million!

From now until the end of January, residents are encouraged to put forward their ideas. You do not have to be a Westfield or Radstock resident, but it does have to benefit these communities. In early February, a public event will take place where the 'Dragons' will be questioning the applicants on their ideas – residents will then vote for the best proposals, winning £500 each. The way this money is used will be monitored by Big Local.

Applications for the 'Dragon's Den' round of funding can be downloaded via the website: http://www.myradstock.org.uk">www.myradstock.org.uk or from Westfield Parish Council by writing to: The Oval Office, Cobblers Way, St Peter's Business Park, Westfield BA3 3BX. Email: [email protected]">[email protected] or phone: 01761 410669. If you wish to discuss your idea, or get advice, please do so via the Steering group, who are available to help – you can find them on Facebook (search Big Local Westfield and Radstock) or via the website. The closing date for the competition is 31st January 2014.

The Big Lottery money is being offered mainly as a result of Westfield and Radstock not accessing grant resources available over the years. The Lottery have identified 150 areas across the country, which have each been allocated £1 million. Each area is at various stages of the process, but Westfield and Radstock were in the first wave of awards, back in 2010.

The next step is to appeal for volunteers to form a Partnership Group to take over from the existing Steering Group. The new group will be responsible for drawing up the Big Local Plan, with the ideas that the community want to use the money for. As the money has to be spent within ten years, these ideas may change over time, depending on the areas' needs. Chair of the Steering Group, Robin Moss, said: "We are a friendly bunch and new volunteers are more than welcome. We are determined that Big Local will be a professional outfit, working in the best interests of the area."

To volunteer in any way, or to ask any questions, please get in touch with the group via the website.

Julian Mellor, the representative from the Big Lottery fund who was chosen by the Steering Group to give them help and advice, spoke at the meeting: "Big Local is not just about being awarded £1 million. It is about using it to transform a community, and investing the money in clever and inventive ways. This process is about putting residents in the driving seat and giving them the skills to make positive change happen."