Case studies

During September-December 2018 we conducted a randomised controlled trial (RCT) with 705 Worcestershire County Council (WCC) domiciliary care users to reduce the number of unpaid service invoices and increase the number of people who sign-up to direct debit. We tested two behaviourally optimised conditions against the control across the Invoice, Reminder 1 and Reminder 2 phases. Relative to the control, our test letters significantly increased: direct debit sign ups by 61% (P<.10), people paying their invoice via the WCC website and automated telephone line by 33% (P<.10), and people calling the helpline by 36% (P<.20).

With official figures estimating that there are at least 13,000 victims of modern slavery in the UK, the issue is a national challenge. Katherine Lloyd, Communications Team Leader (Campaigns and Digital) at Reigate & Banstead Borough Council, explains how the council translated this national picture into a local reality and helped residents to understand that nowhere is immune from the problem.

Bristol Council has adopted a public health approach to tackling violent crime – and in doing so is fully engaging the community.  A stakeholder group has helped to design and implement the strategy, while community champions have been recruited to work with young people. This case study is an example of how councils are tackling youth violence

Southend Council has created a new steering group to coordinate the fight against county lines, ensuring the two safeguarding boards, community safety partnership and health and wellbeing board (HWB) are working together. It has already led to a public awareness campaign being run and other projects are now in the pipeline. This case study is an example of how councils are tackling youth violence.

An innovative cultural centre in the heart of Chester with an award-winning design, focused on encouraging the community and visitors to spend time there. This case study forms part of the Value of culture - regeneration section of our online Culture Hub.

With support from Conwy County Borough Council, MOSTYN Gallery completed a refurbishment in 2010 and now acts as an important community, visitor and creative/cultural sector hub. This case study forms part of the Value of culture - regeneration section of our online Culture Hub.

Manchester’s biennial festival has attracted major artists and delivered large-scale and innovative events and activities, which have put the city on the national and international cultural map. This case study forms part of the Value of culture - regeneration section of our online Culture Hub.

Like many areas, Solihull has a comprehensive support programme in place for children identified as overweight and obese through NCMP. But with over 18 per cent of local children with overweight or with obesity in reception year, the programme has also prompted the council to start considering what can be done to support children pre-school. This case study forms part of our resource on the National Child Measurement Programme.

For the last four years Calderdale Council has used the day its staff carry out the NCMP weighing and measuring to deliver important healthy lifestyle messages to the whole school community. This case study forms part of our resource on the National Child Measurement Programme

Like all areas, Swindon has a well-established range of support for children identified as overweight or obese during NCMP. The school nursing service will offer families an appointment to discuss concerns, give diet and physical activity advice and can refer them on to healthy weight programmes. This case study forms part of our resource on the National Child Measurement Programme.