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.
Us Girls is an award-winning initiative designed to increase and sustain young women’s participation in sport and physical activity in low-income communities across the UK. Underpinned by the principles of Doorstep Sport, it is an evidence-based methodology that enables young women to take part in sport and physical activity in a way that suits them.
This case study explores the impact of community engagement with women and girls as a platform to address barriers to sport and physical activity and offer practical approaches to engagement and participation.
Building on the success of the national “This Girl Can Campaign” from Sport England, Tower Hamlets developed a local digital campaign to inspire women and girls to participate in sports and physical activity, and to promote the range of activities available to them in the borough.
A mother was referred to the Physical Activity Social Prescribing service in her area by her GP for back pain. She was six months pregnant, solo parenting her toddler and living on the top floor of her block of flats. Life was physically tough, and she also felt very isolated. A Physical Activity Link Worker contacted the mother, and helped to put in place solutions.
For Muslim women exercising around men is often discouraged due to modesty and practicalities of clothing. Palmer Park Leisure Centre had an underutilised space which has been transformed into a programmable gym space, with designated female only hours
In January 2023, Active Wirral, facing soaring energy costs and a commitment to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2030, initiated a comprehensive energy efficiency project. Through delivering a range of interventions, the project exceeded its targets, avoiding £231K in costs and saving 335 tonnes CO2e, equivalent to driving around the globe 10 times in an SUV.
Women and girls are typically less active than their male counterparts, with four in 10 women not active enough to ensure they get the full benefits of physical activity. Yet research suggest that women benefit more than men from physical activity.
Trafford Council have used the legacy of UEFA Women’s Euro 2022 as a huge opportunity for women and girls across Trafford to engage in a healthy lifestyle through football.