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.
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.
Stainforth is a small town in South Yorkshire. This former mining community is located within the City of Doncaster local authority area and has a population of around 6,000. The Shaping Stainforth SPHL programme aims to take a complex system approach to improving the determinants of mental health in Stainforth by building on community strengths and assets.
Bristol City Council, North Somerset Council and South Gloucestershire Council worked together with local partners to explore and address the issues and drivers causing food insecurity in seven areas of high need.
When certain groups of boaters in Wiltshire, and across the UK, were excluded from national energy bill support in 2022-23, Wiltshire Council’s Public Health team worked with UK Boaters for Energy Justice, a campaigning team of boaters, to successfully challenge the Government on missing energy bill support.
Essex County Council is enabling people to live as independently as possible, by deploying care technologies, reducing dependency on long-term, higher cost care and support. They recognize that most people benefitting from care technology are in the older people population and they are exploring more how care technology can be utilized across other adults.
Holding council meetings online, first adopted in response to the COVID-19 lockdowns, has led to a greater diversity of elected councillors in this geographically large council area.
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.
In Greater Manchester, system leaders are committed to making a difference in the experience of dementia and delirium. Dementia United is Greater Manchester Integrated Care Partnership’s programme for dementia which also includes the Delirium Programme.
These four case studies identify how barriers can be broken down by addressing cultural expectations and outcomes in systems, by focusing on partnerships, including strong delivery partnerships, by focusing on standards and expectations and by focusing on relationships that make everybody feel a part of something.
To reduce the injuries that young children from the most disadvantaged families suffer at home, a University of Nottingham research team worked closely with Nottingham’s Small Steps Big Changes team, children’s public health 0-19 nursing services, children’s centre staff, family mentors and parents to develop, deliver and measure the impact of the innovative Stay One Step Ahead programme.