The number of children in care has never been so high, rising by 4% over the last year alone and by 2025, the funding gap for children’s services is expected […]

11th September, 2019


This report makes a case for a future of children’s services that is led by children and families. It argues that to ensure the future sustainability of children’s services, we need to start in the community – to grow...

9th September, 2019


The number of looked after children has reached a thirty-year high, with spending in this area accounting for over half of spending on children’s services in 2018-19. Despite the injection […]

9th September, 2019


Last week’s Spending Review announcement provided something of a proverbial crutch for children’s services, but offered few reassurances for the medium to long-term sustainability of what many see as the […]

9th September, 2019


Support the community commissioning agenda and transform the way local authorities interact with communities For almost a decade, local authorities have struggled to manage increasing demand for public services whilst […]

13th August, 2019


Since publishing The Community Paradigm in February, a question I get asked more than any other is what community-led services look like in practice. Clearly, there is a hunger out […]

10th July, 2019


A new vision for public services in which communities are placed at the heart of delivery was set out in NLGN’s report The Community Paradigm, published in February this year. […]

9th July, 2019


What is the point of public service inspectorates like Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission? The standard line is that they are there to make sure public sector bodies offer […]

9th July, 2019


This report makes a convincing case for why the process needs to be led by citizens and service users not public sector professionals. Importantly, it also explains in detail how this shift is happening in practice.

8th July, 2019


In February of this year NLGN set out a compelling new vision for public services in The Community Paradigm The report argued that for a preventative approach to public service […]

8th July, 2019


Two weeks ago, after months of hard work, we opened the doors to a brand-new cultural hub in the centre of Wigan. The hub is situated in one of our […]

30th May, 2019


The plight of children’s services is a well-documented one, and it is in some ways a relief to see that organisations such as the Local Government Association are now listing […]

1st May, 2019


“All adults should always do what is best for you.” – Article 3 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, child-friendly version (1989) On the thirtieth anniversary […]

28th April, 2019


Nationalise or privatise? That has been a classic dividing line for politicians ever since Margaret Thatcher made the latter a core part of her platform in the 1980s. And even […]

27th March, 2019


Created in 2012 following riots in our inner cities, the Government’s Troubled Families Programme has received praise and criticism in equal measure over the last seven years. Created by the […]

19th March, 2019


“Thanks for this short bright moment in a very gloomy world” – Silver Sunday guest Last week when I opened the NLGN Annual Conference, I cited “Silver Sunday” as an […]

15th March, 2019


Exploring how councils are working to tackle loneliness.

14th March, 2019


‘@adamjlent Two things make Big Picture schools fundamentally different from conventional schools. One is the extent to which students are able to shape their own curriculum and learning journey. The […]

27th February, 2019


A new approach to public services is gradually emerging on the front-line. Many innovations coming from local government, the health sector, education and social enterprises are flourishing independently of each […]

25th February, 2019


While the Westminster Bubble obsesses over the daily drama of haggling and brinksmanship over the shape of EU withdrawal, the NLGN Leadership Index reveals new insight into what is actually […]

29th January, 2019



Insight into how to upskill the workforce in your area and building effective partnerships with the business community.

20th January, 2019


This article first appeared on the Local Government Chronicle website on 7th January 2019. It is generally accepted that doctors should avoid diagnosing their own illnesses and prescribing their own […]

8th January, 2019


Exploring the development of partnerships between local authorities and social investors.

18th December, 2018


Developing deeper relationships with your residents and moving from a transactional relationship to a collaborative one.

20th October, 2018


Exploring the work of local government around local renewable energy generation.

18th October, 2018


On 18 July 2018, NLGN partnered with FutureGov to host our latest Innovation Exchange at their offices in London. All of our Innovation Exchanges produce a detailed Insights Report available […]

12th October, 2018


With financial resources likely to be under pressure for the foreseeable future, councils will increasingly need to become a supporter and enabler of communities ready to solve their own problems. […]

20th September, 2018


The relationship between councils and communities is shifting. The traditional role of the council as primarily a “service deliver” has diminishing impact in a context of reduced budgets, rising demand […]

13th September, 2018


Exploring the pros and cons of joint ventures, wholly-owned housing delivery companies and council-led delivery.

29th July, 2018


Implementing the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017 and using this opportunity to innovate.

20th July, 2018


Starting with problems, not software and focusing on users’ needs to make the most of new digital tools.

20th June, 2018


Exploring how different councils have approached co-production: where users are equally responsible for shaping a service.

29th May, 2018


Whilst recent events have placed emphasis on generational differences– particularly between millennials and older baby-boomers – intergenerational Homeshare schemes are addressing a problem that cuts across the perceived generational divide, […]

23rd May, 2018


We know our staff are our biggest asset and at a time of limited resources we need to ensure we are utilising their full potential. We deploy operational staff in […]

30th April, 2018


Increasingly councils are recognising that it is organisational culture not structure that drives impact. But what is the culture of local government? Why is changing it important? And how can […]

18th April, 2018


This article first appeared in the LGC on 17 April 2018 The news that the British National Party no longer has any representation in local government following the resignation of […]

18th April, 2018


Insight into how to get the right team in place to explore the possibilities of data.

20th March, 2018


Exploring how councils are measuring social value and the impact this can have on procurement processes.

29th January, 2018


Exploring how councils are approaching inclusive growth in practice.

29th November, 2017


Exploring how councils can make use of behavioural insights.

20th October, 2017


Guide to setting up effective governance of commercialisation projects to reduce risks and enable growth.

20th October, 2017


Exploring different methods to frame and implement your transformation programme.

20th August, 2017


Key questions to ask when thinking about a trading company model, including and case studies of successful examples.

20th July, 2017


“How can we continue to secure the dignity, wellbeing and happiness of people after nearly a decade of cuts?” pondered the Chief Executive of one London council at a dialogue […]

18th July, 2017


At a time of intense financial pressures and when central government’s mind is on other things, many are asking themselves where local government goes next. In a think-piece launching NLGN’s […]

1st July, 2017


The links between problems like homelessness, substance misuse, mental ill health, violence,domestic abuse and extreme poverty often go unrecognised by services and systems mostly designed to deal with one issue […]

10th May, 2017


In recent years, the word ‘place’ has become a bit of a buzzword in the local government sector. Terms like ‘place-leadership’, ‘place-branding’ and ‘place-building’ are now ubiquitous in strategy documents […]

27th March, 2017


At Essex County Council we are passionate about making a positive contribution to the lives of Essex residents and businesses. It is what we exist for. The qualities of the […]

23rd March, 2017


Local government faces a funding gap of £5.8 billion by 2019/20. At the launch of NLGN’s latest research report Tomorrow’s Places, Theo Blackwell, Councillor at LB Camden, stated “Technology will […]

22nd March, 2017