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Our latest blogs, long-reads, videos and podcasts about all-things community power, local government, public services, and more.
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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
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
Behavioural insights after Covid: three changes to keep
The Behavioural Insights Team (BIT) turn their attention to what life might look like after lockdown, and the opportunities for change this might bring.
By by Hazel Wright, Senior Advisor, Behavioural Insights Team
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
Time for a national conversation on resilience
Kicking off a new conversation about Resilient Britain, chief executive of Local Trust, Matt Leach, and director of NLGN, Adam Lent, set out their plan to bring together a...
By Matt Leach, Chief Executive - Big Local, and Adam Lent, Director - NLGN
24th July, 2020
Build Back Better • Covid-19 • Employment • Public Services • Resilience
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
Councils vs Covid: 3 Things We Learned From Local Gov’s Pandemic Response
What have we learned from monitoring innovative local responses to COVID-19?
By Charlotte Morgan, Senior Policy Researcher
16th July, 2020
Podcast: The Rise of Mutual Aid
Have a Listen: The public response to the COVID-19 pandemic has been a source of much-needed hope. Thousands of spontaneous, voluntary Mutual Aid groups have emerged to support the...
13th July, 2020
Mutual Aid kept 1000s afloat during Covid. Here’s how to sustain it.
Across the country, thousands of Mutual Aid groups have emerged, taking on vital work and supporting the most vulnerable people in their communities through this unprecedented disaster. The flourishing...
By Luca Tiratelli, Policy Researcher, NLGN
13th 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
Build Back Better • Community Power • Council Voices • Covid-19
“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
Community Power • Health and social care • Interview • New Local Board
Councils and COVID-19: Their Response – Final edition
Local authorities are indispensable in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. What are they doing to meet the challenge?
By Charlotte Morgan, Senior Policy Researcher, NLGN
3rd July, 2020
As the former deputy mayor of Leicester, I’m aghast at the Government’s lockdown approach
Rory Palmer, former deputy mayor of Leicester, tracks the governments over-centralised approach to lockdown.
By Rory Palmer
1st July, 2020
Michael Gove’s Reform Plans Reinforce the Elitism he Claims to Despise
Michael Gove's agenda-setting speech fails to reckon with power.
By Adam Lent, Director, NLGN
29th June, 2020
Councils and COVID-19: Their Response – Edition #14
Local authorities are indispensable to our COVID response. How are they going about meeting the challenge?
By Charlotte Morgan, Senior Policy Researcher, NLGN
26th June, 2020
“This has been the single biggest time I’ve felt I’ve made a difference” – Michelle McGinty
We're talking to people leading change in local government about their work, their place, and the pandemic.
By Michelle McGinty, Coventry City Council
23rd June, 2020
After Covid, only a collaborative approach will save social care – and protect those depending on it
Alex Fox, CEO of Shared Lives Plus, argues that we need to see a rapid shift from the ‘command and control’ leadership style which arguably saved the NHS a...
By Alex Fox, CEO, Shared Lives Plus
22nd June, 2020
Build Back Better • Covid-19 • Public Services • Social Care
We faced Covid-19 with kindness, compassion & love. Now we’re preparing for our biggest challenge yet
Wigan council’s Chief Executive Alison McKenzie-Folan on how her local authority have dealt with the challenges of the Covid pandemic. There have been smiles and tears, exhilaration and complete...
By Alison McKenzie-Folan, Chief Executive, Wigan Council
22nd June, 2020
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
Councils and COVID-19: The Response Edition #13
Local authorities are indispensable to our response to the pandemic. So how are they stepping up to the challenge?
By Charlotte Morgan, Senior Policy Researcher, NLGN
18th June, 2020
“The crisis put our transformation programme on steroids” – Sarah Reed, Sunderland City Council
We talk to people leading change in local government about their work, their place and the pandemic.
17th June, 2020
Councils and COVID-19: The Response Edition #12
Local authorities are indispensable to our response to the crisis. So how are they meeting the challenge?
By Charlotte Morgan, Senior Policy Researcher, NLGN
12th 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
Councils and Covid-19: The Response Edition #11
Local authorities are indispensable to our response to the crisis. So how are councils meeting the challenge?
By Charlotte Morgan, Senior Policy Researcher, NLGN
4th June, 2020
“The biggest social experiment in peace time” – Kushal Birla, Warwickshire County Council
In our Decades in Days series, we talk to the people leading change in local government. They tell us about their work, their place, and the effect of COVID-19...
2nd June, 2020
Councils and COVID-19: The Response Edition #10
25/5/20 – 29/5/20 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
29th May, 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
Councils and COVID-19: The Response Edition #9
18/5/20 – 22/5/20 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
21st May, 2020
Councils and COVID-19: The Response Edition #8
11/5/20 – 15/5/20 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
15th 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
How to Lead Partnerships to Transform Place
‘Place transformation’ has become a well-used term, as the principles underpinning the positive transformation of place are becoming better understood and established. But does this mean we know what...
By Simon Bandy, Strategic Director, Local Partnerships
11th 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
People with disabilities will be further from work after COVID – it’s time to reform the system
If you live in the UK today and have a disability, you are twice as likely to be unemployed than someone who is not disabled – a fact so...
By Pawda Tjoa, Senior Policy Researcher, NLGN
24th 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
By spreading blame for covid-19, we forget where the real power lies
These are unsettling times – there is much to fear and much to lament. But of all the developments of the last few weeks, the one that I’ve found...
By Luca Tiratelli, Policy Researcher, NLGN
27th March, 2020
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