New local government structures are on the horizon.
A brilliant panel on the opportunities of LGR - and how to centre communities.
💬 Salena Mulhere (Test Valley BC)
💬 Paul Pawa (Norse)
💬 Jonathan Stephenson (@brentwoodbc.bsky.social)
🪑 @gracepollard.bsky.social
#StrongerThings
Social capital is often the missing ingredient in place-based regeneration.
We’re looking at how to identify, measure & strengthen it at the hyperlocal level.
💬 Dan Crowe (3ni)
💬 @annafrancisart.bsky.social
💬 Robin Fry (North East Combined Authority)
🪑 @gracepollard.bsky.social
#StrongerThings
“If you start with people - their needs and aspirations - you would never design the system that we’ve ended up with.”
“Reform, for me, has to be built from the ground up - with those that use public services & those that love them.”
@georgiagould.bsky.social on the shape of public service reform
Here we go…
@jesstud.bsky.social & @vibrantkatiekelly.bsky.social open #StrongerThings 2025 🌟
“We gather at a time when the outlines of change have been drawn, but now it’s time for us all to bring some colour to the canvas.”
“The solutions to the seemingly intractable problems we face can be solved by the very communities we serve.”
Ian Thomas, CBE, Town Clerk & Chief Executive of the City of London Corporation, sets the scene for today’s festival of community power #StrongerThings ⭐️
That’s a wrap for today! 🎬
See you bright and early tomorrow for the highlight of our year - #StrongerThings 2025 🌟
p.s. There’s still time to register to join us online 👉 www.newlocal.org.uk/strongerthin...
#StrongerThings 2025 is taking shape!
👀 sneak preview of the magnificent backdrop for tomorrow’s festival of #CommunityPower ⭐️
🎉 We have officially SOLD OUT of in-person tickets for #StrongerThings 2025!
But you can still be part of the action – from wherever you are.
Join us online on 3 June for livestreamed keynotes, exclusive workshops, BTS interviews + more!
🔗 Register here:
It's fantastic timing for this report from @wearenewlocal.bsky.social & @raynefoundation.bsky.social about the vital role community centres (+ assets more broadly) play in transforming neighbourhoods for local benefit — and the investment ecosystem to unlock this at scale.
Read more 👇
3/ 🧵
Interesting work from @natcen.bsky.social showing the potential to bring deliberation into the devolution process.
"community centres need to be recognised as a core part of the essential infrastructure of a place" - @summersimpson.bsky.social shares insights from @wearenewlocal.bsky.social report. With recommendations for local gov, policymakers & funders.
www.newlocal.org.uk/articles/the...
Though vital for connection, community spaces in England have been declining over the years.
We welcome the launch of @wearenewlocal.bsky.social’s report which highlights how community centres are vital infrastructure for communities & why they should receive long-term funding: buff.ly/OFY7FBE [1/3]
New research from @wearenewlocal.bsky.social sets out the vital role that community centres play in local areas and makes the case for meaningful investment. It puts forward a vision for community centres of the future and the contribution they could make to the regeneration of our neighbourhoods⬇️
This is a great piece of work from @summersimpson.bsky.social and the @wearenewlocal.bsky.social team. Do have a read!
Today with @wearenewlocal.bsky.social we launch our report on the value and future of community centres. A vital and neglected part of (re)building community and society in the UK, it's time to turn attention to places 'Where People Meet' @raynefoundation.bsky.social .
It’s a very big day for me – @wearenewlocal.bsky.social launches Where People Meet: Where People Meet: How We Celebrate, Sustain and Reimagine Community Centres.
www.newlocal.org.uk/publications...
This insightful and practical report is valuable reading for local gov, NHS, funders & policymakers.
With housebuilding, regeneration, prevention & neighbourhood working high on the policy agenda - it's a critical moment to reflect how we sustain and nurture this important social infrastructure.
With the growing policy focus on working at the scale of neighbourhoods - this is a timely and thoughtful piece from @nicksinclair.bsky.social and David Robinson on "relational neighbourhoods".
What does the English Devolution White Paper mean for public services?
What is needed to make it work?
@jesstud.bsky.social on this ➕ more on The Local Authority Podcast 🎙
“There is a deeper and more sophisticated conversation to be had about cost and spend across a place”.
Power. Prevention. Place.
These are the pillars of an emerging 'new local', writes Jessica Studdert in a new think piece.
www.newlocal.org.uk/articles/wha...
Because the system isn't unfixable - it's being mended from the ground up, alongside communities - & it's time national players took note.
Big day for devo & localism: the English Devo White Paper starts important discussion about practical routes to meaningfully redistribute power & rewire public services & ££ across places.
We need to focus on scale for impact regions-local-community. Full @wearenewlocal.bsky.social response here:
Mission driven government requires genuine efforts to work with and mobilise those beyond Whitehall - the wider public sector, VCSE, communities and businesses.
Real need to build mechanisms to capture spending as it plays out across places rather than only focusing on siloed departmental efficiencies. Won't be achieved by SR but foundations need to be laid.
Stronger feedback loops must be developed between national policymakers and local areas. Can't just be policy set nationally and delivered locally.
Great to hear @jesstud.bsky.social reflecting on how mission driven government will require a change in relationships between Whitehall and local areas. Key takeaways for me:
"Rather than a zero-sum wrangle between tiers, we need to ensure empowered, confident governing institutions emerge and evolve to face out to communities"
@jesstud.bsky.social on the strategy that's needed for public service reform 🔗 www.lgcplus.com/politics/dev...
Good to be at Pat McFadden speech this morning announcing test & learn reforms across the country in Liverpool, Sheffield, Manchester & Essex.
Important focus on shifting civil service structures away from a focus on process, towards outcomes- with emphasis on insights from the frontline.
Missions, milestones and metrics: a 🧵 with a few thoughts on Keir Starmer’s Plan for Change, full speech here: www.gov.uk/government/s...
