Innovation in local government is about improving the lives of the people in our
communities. Browse through our case studies to see the many innovative programmes councils are involved
in.
Thurrock was one of the 75 local authorities across England to be an early adopter of the UK government’s Family Hubs and Start for Life programme. Thurrock’s Council officially signed up to the programme in 2022. Developing the Home Learning Environment (HLE) was identified for delivery as evidence shows that the quality of parent-child interactions at home is a key predictor of a child’s early language ability and future success.
Babyzone works in partnership with Family Hubs across multiple local authorities to provide integrated, preventative early years support for families with babies. By embedding Family Hub practitioners and programmes within trusted Babyzone community settings, families are able to access early help, parenting support, health advice and wellbeing services in one welcoming space.
Who Let The Dads Out? is a national network of community groups that give fathers and father figures regular, welcoming spaces to spend quality time with their children. Launched in 2003 at Hoole Baptist Church in Chester, the model has grown to over 175 groups across the UK.
This case study describes Surrey County Council’s data transformation programme, which is making great progress towards its vision of becoming a fully data-enabled organisation, using data as a strategic asset to improve decisions, services, and outcomes for residents.
Babies have a voice – that is, they have a right to have their views taken seriously in decisions affecting their lives. This voice is best interpreted through warm relationships with those who know them well. This resource covers the importance of listening to babies’ views to understand their experiences and give them the best start in life.