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 response to Section 507B of the Education Act 1996, Barking and Dagenham developed a dynamic, co-owned Youth Offer shaped by young people and VCFS partners.
New Town Culture is a curatorial project within the Culture and Heritage Service that integrates arts and culture into Children’s and Adults Social Care.
ShowerBox Barking is the first permanent, dedicated, shower facility for people experiencing homelessness. It provides hot showers, clean underwear, respite and refreshments to promote better hygiene and health.
BD Notes is a simple, AI-powered web app developed in-house to help staff turn unstructured meeting transcripts, documents and reports into structured content, reducing administrative time and improving consistency.
In 2023, Hackney Council implemented a reorganisation of its library service to upskill and empower staff, and provide local people with a new community hub, where they could benefit from a wider range of services.
Babies have a voice – that is, they have a right to have their views taken seriously in decisions affecting their lives. This voice is best interpreted through warm relationships with those who know them well. This resource covers the importance of listening to babies’ views to understand their experiences and give them the best start in life.
The development of an agile and flexible online app that would provide all information in one place with the ability to interrogate performance alongside other key issues such as risk and finance.
Since 2021, Hounslow’s Community Development Team has pioneered a place-based approach to community engagement, partnership working, and local democracy. By embedding officers in neighbourhoods, facilitating networks of voluntary and community groups, and transforming traditional council forums into collaborative spaces, the team has built the infrastructure for genuine civic participation and collective action.
A GP recognized a young, struggling single mother's deeper family crises during a routine appointment but had no time to address them. By referring her to a local Family Wellbeing Centre, the mother received holistic support for her child's needs, finances, and wellbeing, which also helped her manage her own health. This case highlights the powerful, necessary partnership between time-pressed GPs, who identify hidden needs, and community hubs, which provide the sustained, practical support families require.