In recent years we’ve seen a continued and increasing link between health and economic outcomes, brought into sharp focus by COVID-19. Imran Hashmi and Laura Charlesworth examine what this means for the UK labour market and for levelling up.

14th March, 2023


In this crisis-ridden era, Adam Lent argues that a bigger state is needed but it must be a fundamentally different, community powered state.

23rd February, 2022


A year on from our report about community responses to the first lockdown, some local authorities have made great progress at working with community groups but others still struggle to collaborate.

10th February, 2022


For many in local government, the Covid-19 pandemic has been defined not only by huge hardship and challenges, but also by renewed purpose, new partnerships and rediscovered passion for their work. As society takes steps towards ‘normality’, we ask...

4th August, 2021


As the vaccine rollout widens, how can local services reach eligible people who remain hesitant to make an appointment? In this how-to guide, the experts from the Behavioural Insights Team look at how to nudge more people to get...

10th February, 2021


Covid-19 has had a severe impact on the social, economic and mental wellbeing of young people. Through a new Listening Project, we'll explore how to build 'cultural communities' for, and with, younger generations. And you're invited to join us....

2nd February, 2021


The Covid-19 pandemic has shone a light on how the UK functions: how decisions are made and by whom; the interlocking - or isolated - roles of health care, local government and the private sector - and the 'heroic'...

1st February, 2021


Together, councils and communities did extraordinary things during Covid-19. Our Shifting the Balance research explores how practices, cultures and attitudes changed - and how to keep hold of some of the advances for the future.

27th January, 2021


Shaped by conversations with public and third sector leaders across England, Wales and Scotland, Shifting the Balance explores how councils and communities joined together to fight Covid-19. And it sets out recommendations for how to take forward the adaptation,...

27th January, 2021


Covid-19 has brought unimaginable hardship to local communites, but it has also sparked a shift in mindset, culture and practice that helped many get through the pandemic and will provide valuable lessons for how councils and communities combine to...

13th January, 2021


Over six months, Pippa Coutts and her colleagues at Carnegie Trust talked to communities across the UK to gather their experience of the Covid pandemic. The resulting ‘Listening Project’ reflects on what has been learnt during this time and...

9th December, 2020


A vlog from Katie Kelly, Depute Chief Executive - Safer Communities, at East Ayshire Council in Scotland. In 2013, Katie helped set up the council's Vibrant Communities Service - a ground-breaking approach to sharing power between the local authority...

7th December, 2020


Watch a video of our panel discussion around Towards Resilience: Redesigning our systems for a better future in partnership with Local Trust.

30th October, 2020


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


The paper identifies five pillars that need to form the centre piece of any approach: economic resilience, public sector resilience, community resilience, environmental resilience and workforce resilience.

12th 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


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


Many relationships between councils and communities were transformed by the COVID-19 pandemic. How do we sustain this into a post-pandemic future?

27th 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


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


This report argues that the Mutual Aid phenomenon is a powerful demonstration what’s possible when communities come together.

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


We're talking to people leading change in local government about their work, their place, and the pandemic.

10th July, 2020


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


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


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. The past months seem like a year and the...

22nd 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


This report summarises findings from an event held with the New Local Government Network (NLGN) on the changing relationship between communities and public services during and beyond COVID-19.

9th June, 2020


In a new report, we explore how COVID is changing the relationship between public services and communities.

9th June, 2020


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


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 both. We find out how they are dealing with...

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 most vulnerable people in our communities, and hold information...

29th May, 2020


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 the economy has fallen dramatically, according to the latest findings...

28th May, 2020


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 from our latest Leadership Index survey: Councils have been responding...

28th May, 2020


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 the most vulnerable people in our communities, and hold information...

21st May, 2020


The Mutual Aid phenomenon is a powerful demonstration what’s possible when communities come together. So how does it continue?

18th May, 2020


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 the most vulnerable people in our communities, and hold information...

15th May, 2020


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 the most vulnerable people in our communities, and hold information...

7th May, 2020


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 the most vulnerable people in our communities, and hold information...

1st May, 2020


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 struggles to get its head around a lockdown exit plan,...

27th April, 2020


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 well-known that it has been named the ‘disability employment gap’...

24th April, 2020


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 the most vulnerable people in our communities, and hold information...

24th April, 2020


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 people in our communities, and hold information that keeps local...

17th April, 2020