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.
Residents in Southampton who want to quit smoking and need help can access national NHS materials and an eight-week package of help via many pharmacies or their GP practice if they need it.
Mid and South Essex residents who are newly diagnosed with depression can be referred to a ‘Wellbeing Calls’ service which provides additional support in the first few weeks after diagnosis. Delivered by two local voluntary sector partners, the service supported almost 700 people in the year 2022/23.
Quit Well Newham was launched in January 2021. It provides quit aids such as nicotine replacement therapy and e-cigarettes alongside expert support from a stop smoking adviser
Through the local authority public health teams in Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin, a proportion of the NHS England suicide prevention funding was allocated to develop a suicide bereavement service. This provides emotional and practical support to people affected by a suicide, possible suicide or sudden and unexplained death.
The INTENT programme was developed by team of psychologists at the University of Leeds and its use is now being supported by the social enterprise Evidence to Impact.
In Bournemouth, a cluster of suicides linked to the railways led to targeted action by public health, council, transport and community partners. The response included a strong focus on communications, helping to change how the local media reports on suicide and mental health.
West Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership is working to ensure that people who have been affected by suicide can help to shape the training, support and resources on offer. One project has been looking to reduce the risk of suicide within West Yorkshire’s Gypsy and Traveller community.
The Active Westminster Physical Activity Referral Scheme (PARs) is delivered by Everyone Health in partnership with Westminster City Council’s leisure contractors Everyone Active, and was previously known as the Exercise Referral Scheme.
Everyday Active is a campaign created and developed by Active Kent & Medway, the Active Partnership for Kent and Medway, which is one of 43 Active Partnerships in England and hosted by Kent County Council.