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.
A unique partnership between London Borough of Barking and Dagenham, Barking Churches Unite, award-winning charity ShowerBox and NHS North East London, ShowerBox Barking is the first permanent dedicated shower facility for people experiencing homelessness.
A housing-led service for women, that provides 10 brand new, long-term homes in a block, with onsite support and communal and office space. Support is delivered by a team which also delivers wider community-based support in a Housing First model.
Birmingham City Council’s preventative and collaborative approach meant that when the government launched the ‘Everyone In’ initiative in March last year we were in a better place than most to respond to the pandemic.
On 23 March the Government issued a directive to all councils to temporarily house all rough sleepers during the pandemic to keep them safe. Southend-on-Sea Borough Council placed 89 rough sleepers in hotel and B&B accommodation in just two days and housed a total of 138 across the entire period of lockdown.
A specialist nursing service for rough sleepers works closely with Bolton Council and local voluntary sector services. It provides support on the streets as well as into hostels and from its town centre base.
Social enterprise Bevan Healthcare provides outreach heath support to rough sleepers from a mobile unit. Together, with its primary care centre and work with hospitals, it is providing vital help to vulnerable people.
The council and its partners in the borough have designed a range of dedicated health services to homeless people, covering everything from GP care and psychological support to dietary advice.
A new centre has been established in Leicester to help those on the streets struggling with substance misuse. Around 150 people are using the facilities each month with many being encouraged into treatment as part of a multi-agency approach.
Support is provided to homeless people while they are in hospital. It ensures when they are ready to be discharged they will not return to the streets. Over the past two years no-one has been released without accommodation to go into.