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.
Richmond and Wandsworth councils have used the Low Income Family Tracker (LIFT) to identify households who may be eligible for different benefits, but not claiming them.
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.
Qualitative researchers in Wirral Council’s Public Health team have been using ethnography to see and hear how residents are affected by fuel poverty, including those that may be hidden from the national statistics on fuel poverty.
Furniture poverty is the inability to access, or afford to buy or maintain, any household furniture or appliance item that is essential for a socially acceptable standard of living. At least 26 per cent of social housing tenants live in furniture poverty - yet only 2 per cent of social homes are let as furnished.
The Future Female Leaders Programme supports and empowers women above the age of 18 from ethnically diverse communities in and around London to overcome social, educational and economic barriers to diversify and create more coaches and leaders in the sport, health and physical activity sector.
A free 10-week Active Menopause Programme in North West Leicestershire, to support women who are going through perimenopause or menopause and to help them become more physically active.
The Cheers M’Dears events are so popular, the centre now operates a waiting list for people wishing to join them from other day centres in Oxfordshire, as well as external users.
In October 2022 the LGA, in partnership with the leading charity Disability Rights UK, launched a bespoke leadership development programme for Disabled councillors. This programme, funded by UK government, aims to provide councillors with unique networking opportunities, support in their role as local community leaders, and a chance to reflect on leadership through the lens of disability.
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.
Three greenspaces across inner city areas of Bradford were co-designed with local adolescent girls, to enhance the safety and appeal of these spaces. The girls valued their involvement and felt empowered by the process. This way of working influenced other community consultations and will be embedded in local design guides.