Category: Articles
Health care is so much more about what happens in hospitals, writes the former Chief Executive of the English NHS. Instead, it can thrive with the help of 'health creators' - ordinary people creating healthier communities. And it's time...
13th November, 2020
The crises facing care homes meant social care became part of the news during Covid-19. But how can we look beyond it to building a better system for future generations?
10th November, 2020
Community Power • Health and social care • Public Services • Social Care
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 government’s abuse by demanding a parliamentary act protecting the rights...
2nd November, 2020
Over 2 million people are out of work due to health conditions and disabilities. But each year, only 4% move into employment. Introducing new research This Isn't Working, Tom Pollard argues that support for this group should lie with...
27th October, 2020
Disabilities • DWP • Employment • Mental health • Welfare
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 it.
27th October, 2020
Disabilities • DWP • Employment • Health and social care • Mental health • Podcast
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 mentalities. A mentality that keeps people powerless and hence keeps...
21st October, 2020
Covid-19 • Devolution and reorganisation • Political Systems
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.
21st October, 2020
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.
15th October, 2020
Amid doubts about the government's plans for a devolution white paper, Adam Lent outlines three principles to guide a new approach to reform.
9th October, 2020
Central government • Covid-19 • Devolution • Devolution and reorganisation
The independent think tank and network New Local Government Network (NLGN) has changed its name to ‘New Local’, alongside releasing a new visual identity and website.
7th October, 2020
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.
6th October, 2020
Central government • Devolution and reorganisation • Strategy and leadership
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 McNabola […]
1st October, 2020
“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 would […]
1st October, 2020
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 isolation. […]
1st October, 2020
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. As […]
25th September, 2020
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 their […]
16th September, 2020
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 endured […]
15th September, 2020
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 five […]
3rd September, 2020
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 is […]
1st September, 2020
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 present […]
7th August, 2020
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 Simon Duffy
7th August, 2020
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 government. John Myers of the YIMBY Alliance sets out how...
6th August, 2020
Community Power • Housing • Place building • Planning • Public Services
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 be done.
29th July, 2020
The Behavioural Insights Team (BIT) turn their attention to what life might look like after lockdown, and the opportunities for change this might bring.
29th July, 2020
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 to capture the best examples of this
26th July, 2020
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 network of people and organisations to design and deliver plans...
24th July, 2020
Build Back Better • Covid-19 • Employment • Public Services • Resilience
As councils prepare for recovery from COVID-19, we asked leaders in local government how their councils are preparing for a potential second wave
23rd July, 2020
What have we learned from monitoring innovative local responses to COVID-19?
16th July, 2020
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 most […]
13th July, 2020
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 of these groups raises many questions, particularly for those of...
13th July, 2020
Mutual Aid groups have been an indispensable part of the country’s response to COVID-19, powered by people on furlough. Research published today (14 July 2020) by the New Local Government […]
13th July, 2020
We're talking to people leading change in local government about their work, their place, and the pandemic.
10th July, 2020
Build Back Better • Community Power • Council Voices • Covid-19
NLGN is proud to welcome Sir Chris Ham to our Board.
7th July, 2020
Community Power • Health and social care • Interview • New Local Board
Local authorities are indispensable in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. What are they doing to meet the challenge?
3rd July, 2020
Rory Palmer, former deputy mayor of Leicester, tracks the governments over-centralised approach to lockdown.
1st July, 2020
Michael Gove's agenda-setting speech fails to reckon with power.
29th June, 2020
Local authorities are indispensable to our COVID response. How are they going about meeting the challenge?
26th June, 2020
We're talking to people leading change in local government about their work, their place, and the pandemic.
23rd June, 2020
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 few weeks ago, to a much more devolved and collaborative...
22nd June, 2020
Build Back Better • Covid-19 • Public Services • Social Care
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 exhaustion. […]
22nd June, 2020
A growing number of councils are adopting new approaches to children's services which tap into the capacity and experiences of local people.
18th June, 2020
Local authorities are indispensable to our response to the pandemic. So how are they stepping up to the challenge?
18th June, 2020
We talk to people leading change in local government about their work, their place and the pandemic.
17th June, 2020
Local authorities are indispensable to our response to the crisis. So how are they meeting the challenge?
12th June, 2020
In a new report, we explore how COVID is changing the relationship between public services and communities.
9th June, 2020
Build Back Better • Community Power • Covid-19 • Public Services
How can deliberative forums be used to engage and mobilise communities?
8th June, 2020
Local authorities are indispensable to our response to the crisis. So how are councils meeting the challenge?
4th June, 2020
"How do we know what to measure?" This is a key question for local government.
3rd June, 2020
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 on […]
2nd June, 2020
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 the […]
29th May, 2020