Case studies

Faced with the task of breathing new life into their intranet, Devon County Council decided to take the bold step of integrating it into their public website. Internal Communications and Stakeholder Relations Manager Paula Miles explains why they did it and why early indications suggests it could be the solution to a more open, transparent and collaborative way of working.

With official figures for England and Wales revealing that one in four women and one in six men will experience domestic violence in their lifetime, Camden Council decided to create the ‘know you’re not alone’ campaign to raise awareness and help their communities access vital support services. Communications Lead Lorna Gott explains what they did and the important role that video played in delivering their message.

Having involved communities in previous public-facing campaigns in the past, Cornwall Council was in a strong position to engage residents in the devolution agenda.

The North East England Chamber of Commerce (The Chamber), which represents over 3,000 businesses from all sectors and covers two local enterprise partnership areas, has been working closely with the business community to bring the benefits of devolution to the region.

When Storm Desmond hit the North of England in 2015 it flooded around 100 properties in Wyre. Senior Communications Officer Stephanie Collinson explains how the council delivered much needed communications support to a community in crisis.

With a reduction in staffing numbers and budget over the past five years, South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service’s communications team needed to find a way of delivering an outstanding service despite more limited resources. Corporate communications manager Alex Mills explains what they did.

With pregnancy smoking rates showing a slight increase in 2014/2015 Hertfordshire County Council’s Public Health Service wanted to encourage pregnant smokers to quit for good. Senior Campaigns and Communications Officer Jo Necchi explains what they did.

Communicating messages about death is always challenging, but Leeds City Council decided to take the reins and work with partners across the city to help residents face their fears. Communications officer Debra Kerr and Ageing Well Officer Carole Clark explain how collaboration helped people to find the right words to tackle this difficult subject.

When illegally dumped industrial waste caught fire at a former mushroom factory, Selby District Council’s crisis communications plans kicked into action. Communications manager, Mike James, explains how they tackled the issue and why the experiences of the past helped them manage the situation.

With research showing that relationship abuse is most prevalent among 16-24 year olds, Westminster City Council wanted to help young people find their voice and speak out about unhealthy relationships. Communications account manager Klara Nordstrom explains how they used creative thinking to engage this often hard-to-reach group.