More councils in England are set to benefit from the latest round of the Local Government Association’s Behavioural Insights Programme as they continue to lead their communities through the COVID-19 crisis.
Now in its sixth year, the LGA said applications for the programme are open. It will see councils chosen to receive £20,000 to deliver behavioural insights projects aimed at changing, or sustaining behaviour, which have arisen in communities during the coronavirus pandemic. Councils will be asked to match fund the projects which will have national significance and learning for local authorities nationwide.
The behavioural insights approach is based on the approach that interventions will encourage people to make better life choices for themselves and society will be more successful if they are based on insights from behavioural science.
Previous schemes which have benefitted from the programme have proven to generate low cost interventions to improve outcomes for people.
The LGA worked with Kent County Council, Kent Police, their commissioned support services and the Behavioural Insights Team to increase the number of domestic abuse victims that seek and receive support. The commissioned support service successfully contacted a further 6.3 per cent of domestic violence victims which saw a 3.6 per cent increase of uptake in support received.
Knowsley Borough Council increased uptake of assistance technology in the home and developed behaviourally-informed materials and conducted a mail out targeted at key groups of residents who could benefit – those with blue badges and those with assisted bin collections. Installations increased by 27 per cent.
North Yorkshire County Council and the LGA are running a project to support home workers during the COVID-19 outbreak as they adjust to working from home. This includes assistance with home-schooling for parents and carers who have new responsibilities.
Cllr Peter Fleming, Chairman of the LGA’s Improvement and Innovation Board, said:
“The LGA’s Behavioural Insights programme is a local government success story.
“As councils come to terms with the impact of the coronavirus crisis, we encourage them to apply for our programme to help them to tackle the challenges they will face in the months and years ahead.”
Notes to editors
LGA Behavioural Insights Projects
LGA Behavioural Insights Programme webpage
LGA Behavioural Insights Programme application form