Helen Power and Tom Lloyd Goodwin from the Centre for Local Economic Strategies (CLES) discuss the need for the UK government to fundamentally rethink how English devolution works. This article originally appeared in the Local Government Chronicle and then on the CLES website in June 2024. CLES are part of the Partnership Delivery Team for the … Continue reading “What Good Devolution Looks Like”
Author: Guest
Getting Ready for Local Growth Plans
Megan Streb from the What Works Centre for Local Economic Growth provides a series of recommendations for local authorities when developing Local Growth Plans. This blog was first posted on the What Works Centre for Local Economic Growth website in September 2024. What Works Centre for Local Economic Growth are part of the Local Policy … Continue reading “Getting Ready for Local Growth Plans”
Why it’s not always easy to think about local economic benefits
Victoria Sutherland from What Works Growth discusses the benefits of social infrastructure for communities. However, despite its importance, it can be difficult to demonstrate the economic benefits gained from it. This blog was first posted on the What Works Centre for Local Economic Growth website in September 2024. What Works Centre for Local Economic Growth … Continue reading “Why it’s not always easy to think about local economic benefits”
Combined Recipe for Healthy Communities
Mayoral combined authorities in England can leverage their distinct powers and resources to address health determinants by enhancing access to quality work, transport, and housing. Initiatives such as Greater Manchester’s Good Landlord Charter and bus fare caps, the West Midlands’ Thrive into Work, and Liverpool’s Households into Work illustrate efforts to improve employment standards and … Continue reading “Combined Recipe for Healthy Communities”
Bridging Academic Perspectives and Community Engagement
Ayad Al-Ani, London Central Academy Director and member of StaffsCAN, a Civic and Community Advisory Network, at Staffordshire University, blogs about his journey with the National Civic Impact Accelerator Programme (NCIA). This blog was first posted on the National Co-ordinating Centre for Public Engagement (NCCPE) website. The NCCPE are members of the Partnership Delivery Team of the … Continue reading “Bridging Academic Perspectives and Community Engagement”
How Can Local Residents in 25 Communities in All Four Corners of the UK Have Greater Ownership of Net Zero Decisions?
The path to net zero involves significant obstacles, including public skepticism and resistance, which can be addressed by involving citizens in decision-making from the start. Emily Tulloh, Engagement Lead at Involve discusses how Involve, in partnership with Forum for the Future, Ipsos, and Quantum Strategy and Technology Ltd., is supporting 25 UK local authorities in … Continue reading “How Can Local Residents in 25 Communities in All Four Corners of the UK Have Greater Ownership of Net Zero Decisions?”
Putting the Community in Community Wealth Building
On 7 May 2024, Naomi Mason, Senior Researcher at CLES, delivered the opening keynote at the Third Sector Interface Scotland (TSI) Network conference, and the challenges faced by the third sector in Scotland, exacerbated by austerity, the pandemic, and economic uncertainty were impossible to forget. Despite these challenges, Naomi notes that the third sector has … Continue reading “Putting the Community in Community Wealth Building”
With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility (For Evaluation?)
The recent local government elections introduced two new metro mayors, increasing the proportion of the English population under mayoral governance to 50%, and highlighted the evolving relationship between local and central government. Will Brett-Harding, Policy Officer at the What Works Centre for Local Economic Growth, notes that while devolution advances, the importance of effective policy … Continue reading “With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility (For Evaluation?)”
Bridging Research and Practice: Harnessing Community Engagement for Social Impact
Sophie Cloutterbuck, Director of London Engagement at London Metropolitan University, believes universities have a vital role beyond academia. Here, she blogs about how they can be powerful agents for social change and foster a vibrant connection with the communities they serve, and shares how she and her team embedded this vision at the heart of … Continue reading “Bridging Research and Practice: Harnessing Community Engagement for Social Impact”
“Fix the Broken System”
Sarah Longlands from the Centre for Local Economic Strategies (CLES) and Eleanor Radcliffe, formerly CLES and now at Carbon Coop, discuss how local authorities across the UK are plugging the gap left by central governments in their efforts to tackle the climate crisis. This blog was first posted on the CLES blog site and in … Continue reading ““Fix the Broken System””