Four years already? Time flies when you’re building something special.

On May 24, 2025, the Little BIG Foundation marked its fourth birthday, a milestone celebrating years of connection, care, and proof that small acts can make a big difference. To honour the occasion, we sat down with CEO, Sarah Mathews to reflect on the journey so far.

Sarah has been with Little BIG right from the very beginning. From the initial daydreaming about how every community should have an easy way to make new friends, through to assembling the furniture and then back to presenting at industry events, Sarah is a real ‘jack-of-all-trades’ around the Little BIG House.

The original seed for Little BIG came while Sarah was working with property developer, EG. Their vision for the Flour Mill of Summer Hill wasn’t just about buildings; it was about building community. She had been involved in early initiatives like “Meet the Neighbours” nights and helping the Sunday Markets kickstart, but the question was how to make it last.

Then 2020 hit. Just as these new neighbours had been encouraged to get to know one another, the world shut down. Something unexpected happened: music floated from balconies, strangers started waving across courtyards, and little sparks of community were born in isolation. Yoga classes went online. Violinists played to their neighbours from balconies. And organically, local leaders emerged.

The challenge was that these everyday community champions didn’t have the tools to keep going. They needed venues, support, and guidance to prevent burnout. That’s when Little BIG found it’s place, creating a movement that allowed volunteers to sustain connection in their community.

The name “Little BIG” says it all. So many volunteers would modestly say, “It’s just a little thing I do,” whether it was forming the garden committee, starting a music night, or a weekly walk club. But to someone feeling disconnected, those “little things” were monumental.

Running a not-for-profit is no easy task. As CEO, Sarah takes on the roles of strategist, storyteller, community-builder, and supply runner. One of her biggest challenges is knowing what not to do. “With limited resources, we can’t do everything,” she says. “And sometimes, that means saying no to good ideas to protect the sustainability of what we have.” It’s a careful balancing act that requires both heart and discipline.

Volunteers remain the soul of Little BIG. Sarah lights up when she talks about them. She shares stories of parents who now confidently approach strangers at the park, kids who grow up seeing volunteering as a normal part of life, and individuals who have used their Little BIG experience to find new opportunities or careers. “The stories I hear are just a fraction of what’s really happening,” she says. “And that’s the best part, knowing the ripple effect is bigger than we’ll ever fully understand.”

She starts her week (okay, every day) with a strong coffee and a focus on her “big rocks,” five meaningful tasks that, if done, move Little BIG forward in one way or another. It’s easy to get stuck in the weeds so if she gets those five things done, she considers it a good week. While work is all-consuming, she believes it’s important to make time to switch off by going on overseas holidays to warm places in the winter and getting outside in the sunshine. “I’m basically a reptile,” she jokes. “I need warmth to recharge.”

Outside of her work Sarah lives with her partner George and Maverick the Schnoodle. She is a very hands-on home renovator (though she claims her skills are “questionable”). She became Aunty-Sar-Bear when she was 12 years old (her brother is 15 years older than her) and now has 5 nieces and 4 nephews ranging from 3 years old to 27 years old. She fits in yoga when she can, listens to a wide range of podcasts from leadership to ghost stories, and has recently made more time for books. “I have a secret dream to be a tradie,” she laughs, explaining what she’d do if she weren’t doing what she’s doing now. “I love a project and working with my hands. I love seeing a ‘thing’ completed.”

As Little BIG enters its fifth year, Sarah hopes what’s been built in Summer Hill becomes a model for communities everywhere. She envisions a future where connection isn’t a happy accident but a core principle of how neighbourhoods are designed. In her view, no development should be complete without spaces for people to meet, share, and belong.

The mission remains as clear and powerful as ever: to make it easier for people to do kind things for one another. Whether it’s planting herbs, starting a book club, or simply saying hello to a neighbour, every small act matters.

Here’s to four years of generosity, courage, and connection — and to all the Little BIG things still to come. 💛

Here’s more about Sarah:

I’ve been involved with the Little BIG Foundation since …

Day one! I was involved with writing the constitution, getting our charity status (that was a huge job), appointing the Board members, the brand, the website, and assembling the furniture at the Little BIG House.

What inspired Little BIG?

Little BIG was born out of the recognition that urban environments can be isolating. We live side-by-side but know each other less. We saw that there is a need for a place where people can come together, that champion ideas and helps them tear down the red tape that stops good people doing good things for each other.

This community is special to me because …

I used to visit a friend here when I first moved to Sydney (around 2012). I remember she took me to the community garden on Smith Street where we picked some herbs for the meal we were making together that night. I felt was very unique in a big city.

I was then reintroduced to the area when I worked on the Flour Mill apartments marketing campaign from 2018-2020 before launching the Little BIG Foundation in 2020-2021.

Oh, and I live here now! My partner and I moved to the area in 2023.

The most impactful Little BIG moment I’ve experienced within the foundation is …

I love hearing all the little stories of connection. I love it when someone send me a message with a little story. I print them out and stick them up on the wall beside my desk.

Something else memorable was when we attempted the Guinness World Record for the ‘largest human image of a house’ at the Flour Mill. It was a mammoth task to organise and sadly we were 100 people short of the record. But I’ll never forget it!

The initiative I’m most passionate about within the Little BIG Foundation is …

The management committee – local leadership and decision making is what will make this sustainable and impactful.

I’m most grateful for …

Our volunteers and board. The sheer volume of time and personal sacrifice that this community puts into helping Little BIG. 

My favourite aspect of the Little BIG Foundation is …

Day to day, it’s the volunteer training – I love it when we all come together, learn something, help each other be better. I also just feel like I’m having a good time with my friends.

At a more strategic level, I like rethinking how a not-for-profit can operate. I’m excited about how we link our NFP goals to the property sector outcomes because I feel like this is a more sustainable operating model than being reliant on grants or donations alone.

How do you envision the future of the Little BIG Foundation?

The vision for this to become the norm in every suburb. That no significant development can happen without consideration of the social wellbeing of both the existing community and those moving into a new development.