Case studies

Citizens for Culture demonstrates how cultural policy can be reshaped when citizens are placed at the heart of decision‑making. In the West of England, a diverse group of residents came together through a region‑wide Citizens’ Assembly to rethink how culture is experienced, valued and governed.

The Anti-Poverty Strategy 2024-2027 was developed to put this commitment into action. It was inspired by a clear ambition: to create the conditions in which all residents can thrive, regardless of their background or circumstances.

Nottingham City Council developed its first Best Start Strategy (2025–2035) through co production with partners, parents, caregivers and children to tackle inequalities and improve outcomes from pre conception to age five, using data and lived experience to shape a child centred, preventative approach.

This case study describes how Parent champions were recruited by the LA through a range of services working with families. These parents worked alongside Dingley's and the LA and led their own activities to drive training engagement and develop parent on parent support locally.

This case study describes how the charity Dingley’s Promise worked in partnership with parents carers to ensure a successful inclusion project reached as many families and early years practitioners as possible. It describes the strategic approach taken and practical tips gained from working closely with local authorities (LAs) as well as the parent carers involved.

A Service Improvement Plan to address and end street homelessness for an identified cohort of individuals experiencing long-term (six plus months) rough sleeping.

Planning teams across the country are under growing pressure, facing growing backlogs, tight deadlines, and staffing constraints. Milton Keynes City Council (MKCC) responded to these pressures by piloting Valon, an AI platform designed to support planning officers from validation through to decision, for 3 months from October to December 2025.

Growing backlogs, tightening deadlines, staffing pressures and a national push to accelerate house building mean that officers in Local Planning Authorities are under increasing levels of pressure. To address these pressures, Leeds City Council collaborated with Xylo for over six months, to co-design, test and launch Xylo Core, an AI workspace that is designed to help planning officers do their best work.

In August 2024, Bradford Council, along with Norfolk and West Northamptonshire Councils, partnered with CC2i and Bullet AI to collaboratively co-produce and pilot a new Adult Social Care (ASC) front door solution using AI Digital Assistants. This approach has been live with all three collaborating councils for six months and is now a product called AIDA.

Each district in West Yorkshire has benefited from a year of culture, concluding with Bradford as UK City of Culture in 2025. Plans for 2026 and onwards have been co-designed with districts and wider stakeholders including arms-length bodies.