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.
In Spring 2025, Plymouth Active - Plymouth City Council’s in-house-run leisure centre - launched a collaboration with Parkinson’s UK to provide free swimming and Good Boost sessions for individuals living with Parkinson’s.
Sport in Mind is a charity dedicated to improving the lives of anyone experiencing mental health challenges across the UK, including those with disabilities and long-term health conditions, through sport and physical activity.
Active North Yorkshire is the recently formed leisure section of North Yorkshire Council. It employs two people whose remit is to increase physical activity and participation of disabled people across the county.
The NHS Hip and Knee Physiotherapy Team have now begun operating from Plymouth Life Centre twice a week for the foreseeable future, supporting up to 30 patients per day.
The aim of the project is to increase the number of people with lived experience of disability, mental health and long-term health conditions to be more active and move in a way that suits them. The project includes workforce development, primary data collection and a focus on system change.
This case study details how CELT’s civic strategy aims to foster a community response and approach to improving outcomes for children in the mid Cornwall area. To capture this learning an interview took place with Claire Bunting Director of Reach for CELT, led by Ann Van Dyke.
Wiltshire Council launched the Warm and Safe Wiltshire programme in 2015 to provide energy advice to local residents. 10 years on, the public health team have expanded the programme in collaboration with libraries and community spaces to reach residents across Wiltshire.
Bristol City Council is keen for there to be ‘no wrong front door’ for families seeking to access support and provision. To increase accessibility to Family Hubs and the breadth of support available, their Family Hub Programme has sought to partner with the local VCFSE sector, who are already supporting families in the city through sustainable, trusted relationships and grassroots projects.