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Communities are being failed. It’s time to enshrine their rights.
The Government’s centralised response and lethal failures on Covid mean it's time to acknowledge that local communities have rights that should be enshrined in law.
By Adam Lent
15th October, 2020
Central government • Community Power • Community Rights • Long read • Politics
We urgently need a fresh approach to devolution
Amid doubts about the government's plans for a devolution white paper, Adam Lent outlines three principles to guide a new approach to reform.
By Adam Lent
9th October, 2020
Central government • Covid-19 • Devolution • Devolution and reorganisation
Missing links? How Covid-19 exposed goverment’s connection problem
The pandemic showed how much central government tightens its grip in a crisis. But it's the connection with local goverrment, not just power that's the problem.
By Jessica Studdert
6th October, 2020
Central government • Covid • Devolution and reorganisation • Strategy and leadership
How community power could save the high street
The decline of the high street was only sped up by Covid-19 – but could commununity ownership help reverse this trend? With inspiring examples from across the UK, Ailbhe...
By Ailbhe McNabola, Head of Research and Policy, Power to Change
1st October, 2020
‘Devolve to Resolve’ the jobs and skills challenge
“We need to be creative, brave and try things that no government has ever done before.” This is how, in a recent tweet, chancellor Rishi Sunak proposed that he...
1st October, 2020
A second wave for mutual aid?
The rise of Mutual Aid groups was a rare positive to come out of the pandemic, seeing thousands of people coming together to help their neighbours through hardship and...
By Luca Tiratelli , Senior Policy Researcher
1st October, 2020
Together, big state and big business ruined our Covid response. Local communities can take it from here.
A ‘marriage from hell’ between big state and big business birthed a litany of failures during Covid-19. Meanwhile, councils and communities have proved themselves far more equipped to cope....
By Jessica Studdert, Deputy Director, New Local Government Network
25th September, 2020
Has councils’ Covid response boosted – or blighted – the case for devolution?
While devolution might be set back by the government’s centralising instincts, which have been laid bare during the pandemic, this is counterbalanced by the support councils have won through...
By Charlotte Morgan, Senior Policy Researcher, NLGN, 16 September, 2020
16th September, 2020
Pillars of Strength: How can we build a ‘Resilient Britain’
From the perspective of international comparisons, Britain’s performance during the COVID-19 pandemic has been a chastening experience. Both in terms of economics and in terms of public health, we...
By Luca Tiratelli, Policy Researcher, NLGN
15th September, 2020
‘Nice White Parents’ and the Corruption of Democracy
A new podcast series from the New York Times makes a simple observation – that the single most powerful force in American public schools are concerned white people. Over...
By Luca Tiratelli, Senior Policy Researcher
3rd September, 2020
A (New) Design for Learning: Doing skills devolution differently
When we talk about devolution, as we will do increasingly when the UK Government’s Devolution and Local Recovery White Paper is published this Autumn, we should remember that it...
By Charlotte Morgan, Senior Policy Researcher, NLGN
1st September, 2020
Staff Choose: Summer Community Power Reads
This might not be your traditional summer for kicking back and relaxing with the latest page-turner, so why not try out something a bit more… powerful? Our NLGN team...
By NLGN Team
7th August, 2020
The moment for Universal Basic Income is now, and it’s local
As we look to a post-pandemic future, more and more local authorities are getting behind the idea of a Universal Basic Income. The case is stronger than ever, argues...
By Simon Duffy, Centre for Welfare Reform / UBI Lab Network
7th August, 2020
Future plans: a community-powered approach to housing?
A new Government White Paper envisages radical reform for planning. But, while it hints at a community-led approach, it also sets rules and targets to be imposed by national...
By John Myers, Co-founder, YIMBY Alliance,
6th August, 2020
Community Power • Housing • Place building • Planning • Public Services
Key findings: How to Mobilise Communities
Communities have the power to do extraordinary things. The evidence for this is all around us at the moment. However, for this potential to be unleashed, work needs to...
By Luca Tiratelli, Policy Researcher, NLGN
29th July, 2020
Have you shifted the balance? New research on a post-Covid future
The COVID-19 pandemic, as well as producing huge hardship and challenges, was also a time that saw incredible innovation, resilience and compassion. NLGN's new report 'Shifting the Balance', aims...
By Simon Kaye, Senior Policy Researcher, NLGN
26th July, 2020
PREPARING FOR A RESURGENCE OF COVID-19: 3 TAKE-AWAYS FROM NLGN’S LATEST LEADERSHIP INDEX SURVEY
As councils prepare for recovery from COVID-19, we asked leaders in local government how their councils are preparing for a potential second wave
By Pawda Tjoa, Senior Policy Researcher, NLGN
23rd July, 2020
“After Covid, it will be hard for any government to say radical climate action is not possible.”
We're talking to people leading change in local government about their work, their place, and the pandemic.
By Hannah Jameson, Lambeth Council
10th July, 2020
“The NHS can learn about community power from local gov” – An interview with Sir Chris Ham
NLGN is proud to welcome Sir Chris Ham to our Board.
7th July, 2020
Chris Ham • Community Power • Health care • Interview • New Local Board • NHS
Putting the community at the heart of children’s services: A Call for Best Practice
A growing number of councils are adopting new approaches to children's services which tap into the capacity and experiences of local people.
By Pawda Tjoa, Senior Policy Researcher, NLGN
18th June, 2020
Four ways COVID-19 is changing the relationship between communities and public services
In a new report, we explore how COVID is changing the relationship between public services and communities.
By Charlotte Morgan, Senior Policy Researcher, NLGN
9th June, 2020
Build Back Better • Community Power • Covid-19 • Public Services
Now is the moment for councils to share power with their communities
How can deliberative forums be used to engage and mobilise communities?
By Bonnie Hewson, Programme Manager Power to Change
8th June, 2020
Economic confidence might be slumping, but community power is on the rise
Throughout the pandemic central government has worked against the grain of local energy, but hope can be found in our communities and councils, writes Jessica Studdert. Councils’ confidence in...
By Jessica Studdert, Deputy Director, NLGN
28th May, 2020
CONFIDENCE IN THE TIME OF COVID-19: 3 TAKE-AWAYS FROM our LATEST LEADERSHIP INDEX SURVEY
As the COVID-19 crisis unfolded, we asked leaders in local government how their councils are coping with the challenges of this crisis. Here are the three things we’ve learned...
By Pawda Tjoa, Senior Researcher
28th May, 2020
Child protection social work in a pandemic: Turning towards the community?
“Disasters shake things loose. And the things that we regarded as fixed and unchangeable can suddenly be changed” (Solnit, 2020) Rebecca Solnit has become the ‘go to’ writer for...
By Brid Featherstone
12th May, 2020
Councils and COVID-19: The Response Edition #7
04/5/20 – 08/5/20 Local authorities are indispensable in our current crisis and are therefore under enormous pressure. They manage the public services that people are increasingly reliant on, support...
By Charlotte Morgan, Senior Policy Researcher, NLGN
7th May, 2020
Community Power • Councils Respond • Covid-19 • Public Services
Councils and COVID-19: The Response Edition #6
27/4/20 – 01/5/20 Local authorities are indispensable in our current crisis and are therefore under enormous pressure. They manage the public services that people are increasingly reliant on, support...
By Charlotte Morgan, Senior Policy Researcher, NLGN
1st May, 2020
Community Power • Councils Respond • Covid-19 • Public Services
Five reasons targets are a terrible way to do government
Under pressure following criticism of his approach to testing for Covid-19, at the start of April Health Secretary Matt Hancock announced a new target: the government would be carrying...
By Jessica Studdert, Deputy Director, NLGN
29th April, 2020
Community Power • Leadership • Local government finance • Strategy and leadership
The Government doesn’t just need an exit plan, it needs a strategy for recovery – and future resilience
Adam Lent, Director of the New Local Government Network, says we urgently need a post-pandemic recovery strategy for the public as well as the private sector. While the UK...
By Adam Lent, Director, NLGN
27th April, 2020
Councils and COVID-19: The Response Edition #5
20/4/20 – 24/4/20 Local authorities are indispensable in our current crisis and are therefore under enormous pressure. They manage the public services that people are increasingly reliant on, support...
By Charlotte Morgan, Senior Policy Researcher, NLGN
24th April, 2020
Community Power • Councils Respond • Covid-19 • Public Services
New Research: How local gov can mobilise communities
Today, there are more councils than ever who realise that they can’t do it alone. That their best work, and most robust decisions, come from working hand-in-hand with the...
By Luca Tiratelli, Policy Researcher, NLGN
21st April, 2020
Elinor Ostrom and Community Power in the UK – Presentation
Who was Elinor Ostrom? What were her key arguments? How are they relevant to localism, public services, and politics in the UK? This presentation serves as an introduction to...
By Simon Kaye
20th April, 2020
Community Power • Ostrom • Politics • Public Services • Video
Councils and COVID-19: The Response Edition #4
Local authorities are indispensable in our current crisis and are therefore under enormous pressure. They manage the public services that people are increasingly reliant on, support the most vulnerable...
By Charlotte Morgan, Senior Policy Researcher, NLGN
17th April, 2020
Community Power • Councils Respond • Covid-19 • Public Services
Feeling Keynes? Why crisis economics needs to look beyond the 40s
After years of enforced slumber, the state is starting to stir. The signs of this were there even before the pandemic hit in full, with Rishi Sunak’s March budget...
By Luca Tiratelli, Policy Researcher, NLGN
14th April, 2020
Councils and COVID-19: The Response Edition #3
Local authorities are indispensable in our current crisis and are therefore under enormous pressure. They manage the public services that people are increasingly reliant on, support the most vulnerable...
By Charlotte Morgan, Senior Policy Researcher, NLGN
9th April, 2020
Community Power • Councils Respond • Covid-19 • Public Services
Councils and covid-19: The response Edition #2
Local authorities are indispensable in our current crisis and are therefore under enormous pressure. They manage the public services that people are increasingly reliant on, support the most vulnerable...
By Charlotte Morgan, Senior Policy Researcher, NLGN
3rd April, 2020
Community Power • Councils Respond • Covid-19 • Public Services
Councils and covid-19: The response Edition #1
Local authorities are indispensable in our current crisis and are therefore under enormous pressure. They manage the public services that people are increasingly reliant on, support the most vulnerable...
By Charlotte Morgan, Senior Policy Researcher, NLGN
27th March, 2020
Community Power • Councils Respond • Covid-19 • Public Services
With every part of our lives facing upheaval, the only certainty is uncertainty
It feels like only a cliché will do as a title for this article. Maybe this tells you something about my writing ability – but, maybe, just as love-songs...
By Luca Tiratelli, Policy Researcher, NLGN
24th March, 2020
Defenders of democracy need to wake up urgently to the threat posed by another crisis
A deep global slowdown is a gift to the authoritarians. Adam Lent argues democrats need to unite around a vision of politically empowered communities to see them off. @adamjlent...
By Adam Lent, Director, NLGN
24th March, 2020
The pandemic asks big questions of our economy. Now is the time to answer them.
Adam Lent argues we need to start thinking now about a post-pandemic plan focused on building stronger communities and a resilient economy. As is often the case with a...
By Adam Lent, Director, NLGN
20th March, 2020
Covid-19 • Economy and business • Employment • Public Health
Activist Voice: Keeping a Wirral Bathhouse Afloat
Built in the 1930s, the Grade II-listed Bryne Avenue Baths had fallen into a state of disrepair when the council made plans to knock the building down. That was...
10th March, 2020
Who cares? Women, work and community power
Women do the vast majority of unpaid care, and are often at the heart of community work. But can community empowerment help create a more egalitarian approach to paid...
By Grace Pollard, Senior Policy Researcher, NLGN
9th March, 2020
Community Power • Employment • Health and social care • Women
Elinor Ostrom: The Economist who Proved Community Power Works
Simon Kaye explores the legacy of Elinor Ostrom, the first female Noble-prize-winning economist, who proved that communities can successfully take charge of the assets around them. It’s work that...
By Simon Kaye, Senior Policy Researcher, NLGN
8th March, 2020
Community Power • Economy and business • Ostrom • Public Services
“We need to unlock everyone’s disrupting power.” An interview with Kajal Odera
Kajal Odera ran campaigns for Youth Parliament, Crisis and Macmillan before joining Change.org – an online petition website with over 240 million users worldwide. She became the UK Executive...
6th March, 2020
Activist Voice: Many like it HOT: Building hope in Halifax
In the run up to our Stronger Things community power event, we’re interviewing local activists who are leading by example. This week we meet Alison Haskins, who taught sewing...
By An interview with Alison Haskins, HOT
27th February, 2020
Community Power • Interview • Powerful Communities • Public Sector Voices
How data and tech could unleash community power
As part of their partnership with our Stronger Things event, Tim Pitts from digital technology provider Agilisys explores the potential of technology, data and creative thinking for local government....
By Tim Pitts, Managing Partner, Agilisys
27th February, 2020
Big Society 2.0? What sets our Paradigm apart
In July 2010, during his honeymoon period as Prime Minister, David Cameron unveiled what he called his “great passion” – the Big Society agenda. Built around principles of localism,...
By Luca Tiratelli, Policy Researcher
26th February, 2020
Don’t underestimate communities – support them to take control
Head of Communications Katy Oglethorpe responds to the Centre for Local Economic Strategies’ critique of the Community Paradigm , by arguing that communities – working in partnership with government...
By Katy Oglethorpe
24th February, 2020
‘We can walk along the street and feel a change’: Activist Voice: The Community Builder
In the run up to our Stronger Things community power event, we’re interviewing local activists who are leading by example. We start with Hannah Sloggett, who has revitalised an...
20th February, 2020
A neighbourhood nudge: Four ways behavioural science can create thriving spaces
With the new government committed to building ‘places we want to live in’ by giving communities more say on development, and the upcoming NLGN conference in March looking at...
By Clare Delargy, Senior Advisor, Behavioural Insights Team
18th February, 2020
Behavioural Insights • Behavourial economics • Community Power • Public Services