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.
Feel Good in the Forest is a social prescribing initiative from Forestry England and Sport England, designed to support people with mild to moderate health conditions through nature-based activities.
Beyond Empower CIC delivers programmes that increase the capacity of mainstream sport and activity provision to meet the needs of local disabled people and those with long-term health conditions.Through its Empower You approach, funded by NHS Greater Manchester and Trafford Council, Beyond Empower helps reduce demand on specialist health and social care services by creating inclusive, accessible opportunities for disabled people to be active and manage their health and wellbeing in mainstream, community environments. Alongside this, its community outreach service provides longer-term, activity-focused social care support — helping disabled people stay connected, active and independent in their communities.
Recognising the local challenge of high levels of physical inactivity, Westminster City Council and RBKC have integrated physical activity into existing workflows in adult social care to deliver great outcomes through an effective, scalable approach.
In 2023, Wiltshire Council commissioned the Institute of Public Care (IPC), Oxford Brookes University to review the local prevalence and impact of gambling harms. The review found that around 12,000 adults in Wiltshire may benefit from some form of gambling treatment or support, according to estimates from the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID). Additionally, it's estimated that 6,000 children live in households with an adult who may require gambling-related support.
Recognising that equal access to training and development is essential for workforce retention, morale and better outcomes for the service, the Director of Public Health at Leicester City Council worked with the team to develop a coordinated approach to training and skills development for all staff.
Stoke-on-Trent City Council, working closely with the NHS Targeted Vaccination Team and locally trusted organisations, engaged with target communities to improve uptake of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine.
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.