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.
Mansfield Museum successfully obtained funding from the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation to undertake the Creative Women Together project. This holistic and therapeutic project gives women at risk a special creative experience they can be proud of.
The case study describes Museums Northumberland bait’s use of the Warwick and Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale (WEMWBS) to build quantitative evidence of the positive impact on wellbeing of taking part in arts and culture.
Union Chain Bridge – which has provided a link between Scotland and England for 200+ years – faced an uncertain future. Co-owned by two local authorities, with an anticipated cost of repair in the millions, the world’s oldest vehicular suspension bridge would likely be mothballed, severing links across the Tweed, and disavowing the region of an internationally important monument.
This case study provides an overview of the West of England and its cultural and creative economy, and the role of the West of England Cultural Compact in this context. It also summarises the new West of England Cultural Plan, including reference to some early initiatives.
In June 2021, the London Borough of Barnet approved the Outline Business Case for the development of an £18.8M strategic sports hub including a wider leisure and community offer at West Hendon Playing Fields.
As a result of the pandemic and the financial difficulties being experienced by many, the government provided local authorities with grants to distribute to those most in need. Buckinghamshire Council set up a Helping Hand service to help administer the funds, working with partners in the voluntary and community sector to reach those really struggling.
Tower Hamlets Council has established a Food Hub which empowers over 60 Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) organisations in serving residents in the borough, and also supports the Council’s FOOD Store pantry programme – a dignity-focused membership model that tackles both food insecurity and root cause issues.
Recognising online applications and attitudes to claiming financial support were low amongst older residents, Lewes District and Eastbourne Borough Councils ran a multi-channel campaign to assist them in obtaining cost of living support.