Little Things, Big Difference
Whether you meet your community at the end of the street, in the lift of your apartment building, or interact with your workplace community in the lobby, we know people make a place and all the little ‘hellos’ add up to the big things in life.
History
In 2021 we launched our first community space, The Summer Hill Little BIG House at 16 Flour Mill Way, Summer Hill. Despite the tail wind of a global pandemic, several lockdowns and rising disconnection, we saw a spike in community connection. We hope this is just the start of our story.
Since then, we have curated office communities too. We call it Good Work, which aims to build and maintain happy, healthier, kinder communities at work. We foster a sense of belonging that reduces loneliness and contributes to a positive work environment throughout an entire building.
Timeline
- Flour Mill Markets launch
- Flour Mill hosts world-record attempt for Youth Off The Streets
- Pandemic sparks ad hoc programs in empty Flour Mill retail spaces
- Little BIG recognised by the ACNC
- Little BIG House opens, 16 Flour Mill Way, Summer Hill — first volunteer-led hub
- First programs launch: Yoga, Friday Night Fiddles, Safe Space
- First Community Info Night; actively recruiting community leaders
- Launched the Volunteer Training program
- Anchor events launch: Co-working, Parents Group, Seniors Group
- First annual Social Connection Report baseline set (with Social Ventures Australia)
- Year ends with 48 hosts, 1,000+ events
- Good Work launches, building connection in office communities
- Loneliness down 7pts (36%→29%); weekly face-to-face contact up to 81%
- Neighbour recognition up 25pts (42%→67%) in Flour Mill
- Volunteer Leadership Committee created and appointed
- Selected for NSW’s Uptown Accelerator Program (1 of 25 districts, only 5 in Sydney)
- Featured at ELT Loneliness Symposium on program evaluation
- Featured in Helping Hands documentary (Ch9, national + regional radio)
- Volunteer base grows to ~60 hosts; 1,500+ events, 3,000+ hours/year
- Sense of belonging from volunteering up to 92% (from 88%)
- New partnership to evolve Flour Mill Markets
- Welcomed Minister Rose Jackson to discuss community activation in a housing growth period
- Keynote “Delightful Density” at Australian Placemaking Summit 2026
- 15+ volunteers recognised at Inner West Council Volunteer Awards
- Founding member of the Australian Loneliness Lab
- Presented to NSW Planning Secretary Kiersten Fishburn and Business Western Sydney
Our Founder
The Little BIG Foundation is founded and funded by EG, a leading Australian real estate fund manager and property developer who seeks to curate communities and have an ongoing community development.
Collaboration in our mission
Nothing great is achieved in isolation, and we’re always on the lookout for incredible organisations doing like-minded work. If you share a common agenda and are open to ongoing communication and knowledge sharing, we’d love to partner with you.
Some of our incredible partners are listed below.
Ending Loneliness Together
A national network of members working together to tackle chronic loneliness in Australia. The Little BIG Foundation is a proud network member.
Very Neighbourly Organisation
A Very Neighbourly Organisation (VNO) is a community, business or government
organisation that supports the values of Relationships Australia’s Neighbours Every Day
campaign for social connection and belonging.
Foundation for Social Connection
A US-based organisation fostering evidence-based solutions for social connection and mental wellbeing through research, advocacy, and community engagement.