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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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Commmunity Rights and Spending Cuts
The wave of spending cuts about to hit councils is yet another Westminster slap in the face to local communities. Adam Lent argues that we can only stop central...
By Adam Lent, Chief Executive, New Local
2nd November, 2020
Podcast: This Isn’t Working
In this podcast, we discuss why the DWP report is ill-equipped to support people out of long-term unemployment. And we look at at the community approach that could replace...
27th October, 2020
Disabilities • DWP • Employment • Health and social care • Mental health • Podcast
The Greater Manchester decision reveals our communities are poor because they are powerless
The decision to impose Covid restrictions on Greater Manchester is about far more than a political spat, says Adam Lent, it is an extreme example of our rulers' centralist...
By Adam Lent
21st October, 2020
Covid-19 • Devolution and reorganisation • Political Systems
Three reasons why Elinor Ostrom is the thinker for right now
Elinor Ostrom was a Nobel Prize-winning thinker and godmother of the community power movement. Here are three vital lessons her work has for the UK today.
By Dr Simon Kaye
21st October, 2020
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
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 • 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
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