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.
Run by and for Disabled staff, SHINE was set up as a disability staff network creating a safe space for Disabled staff and those with long-term health conditions, all driven by personal experiences. Advocating for the Social Model of Disability, SHINE has been able to create meaningful change across Cumbria County Council, now split into Westmorland and Furness, and Cumberland Council.
'Cooking with Friends’ is a Merton Council project aimed at providing care leavers with the opportunity to learn new skills in the kitchen, make new friends and socialise over food. This space provides young people with a chance to create a peer support network, learn life skills and have their say. Those who attend receive a cookbook each session and a voucher of their choice for continuous engagement.
Portsmouth City Council funds a project providing specialist support to rough sleepers with drug or alcohol issues and those at risk of rough sleeping. A multi-agency and multi-disciplinary team work in the community to help people access treatment, psychological support and accommodation.
In Worcestershire, a small team of service-user volunteers provide support and resources to people affected by drug and alcohol misuse who do not engage with conventional treatment services. This is just one element of the work underway to reduce the health inequalities for this vulnerable group of people.
Family Mentors are a highly trained paid peer workforce that deliver the Small Steps at Home manualised evidence-based programme of child development and preventative health support to parents of 0- to four-year-olds.
This evidence-based Language Leads Approach, which consists of training and mentoring a designated practitioner to become the SLC lead in their setting, was piloted in Nottingham City. Despite the positive impact of the LLA, the pilot, ran in 2021/22, saw a very high attrition rate amongst the private, voluntary, and independent settings (PVIs). Staff cover during the COVID pandemic was the barrier to attendance, with the need to develop flexible approaches to the LLA training.
Senior leaders share an understanding that good governance is essential for achieving improvement and transformation and demonstrate this through their interactions with all levels of the organisation.
Us Girls is an award-winning initiative designed to increase and sustain young women’s participation in sport and physical activity in low-income communities across the UK. Underpinned by the principles of Doorstep Sport, it is an evidence-based methodology that enables young women to take part in sport and physical activity in a way that suits them.
A mother was referred to the Physical Activity Social Prescribing service in her area by her GP for back pain. She was six months pregnant, solo parenting her toddler and living on the top floor of her block of flats. Life was physically tough, and she also felt very isolated. A Physical Activity Link Worker contacted the mother, and helped to put in place solutions.