Case studies

At more than 5,000sq kilometres, Norfolk is one of the largest counties in England. To cover such a big area, the county council has set up a network of mobile testing teams rather than rely on static sites. It has allowed the teams to target testing at the neighbourhoods with the most need as well as support local businesses and big events.

More than 100 locations, including parks, supermarkets and faith settings, have been visited – with thousands of test kits handed out to the most hard-to-reach communities.

Libraries across Dorset host a range of early years programmes such as Rhyme Times, Library Gets Lively and Story Times to support early language development and a love of books and reading. Following a Rhyme Time session at Portland Library, staff identified a need to develop their sessions in response to the requirements of some of their families; in the main the isolation of some parents who found it difficult to break into established groups, or who were new to the area and had not developed relationships with other parents.

Norfolk County Council has been working closely with partners on the project Addiction, Diversion, Disruption, Enforcement, and Recovery (ADDER) pilot to reduce instances of drug related crime and deaths within the county.

Kent County Council is working on a project in Margate to reduce the risk of flooding and the impact of increasing summer temperatures. Over 30 new trees have been planted across two urban residential streets, 11 of which are planted within specialist sustainable drainage (SuDS) tree pit systems. The project contributes towards reducing heat stress and surface water flood risk while also providing attractive spaces for residents, visitors and wildlife.

A GP and clinical director of a primary care network in Leeds has been integral in the promotion of COVID-19 vaccinations to local community members since the beginning of the vaccine rollout.

One of the key challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic response has been ensuring that all communities have equitable access to guidance as well as addressing the issue of misinformation and myths.

Gateshead Council has seen unemployment rates rise, but the council is working with its partners to provide targeted support to the most deprived communities in a variety of ways.

The London borough of Lewisham is making tackling food poverty a priority in the recovery from the pandemic.

East London has a history of extremist groups operating in the area, which has on occasion manifested itself in terrorist activity. Local authorities in the region have been particularly concerned that young people may be vulnerable to extremist ideologies.