How to connect communities to create opportunities
From a report by the Behavioural Insights Team
Building bridges between people may be most important infrastructure investment we never make. Strong links between social networks and economic outcomes. It starts with giving communities real control.
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Moving upstream to tackle root causes
Geoff Knott
Social action is not addressing root causes i.e. we are ministering downstream after people have hit problems, rather than trying to eliminate the causes of the problems in the first place. We need to go upstream.
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Did Sure Start work?
From an article by Beautiful Enterprise
Initially in deprived areas, provided services for families with children to help navigate pregnancy, parenting, childcare, early learning, finding jobs. Long-term results; higher educational achievements, better health, and more..
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Bringing back the power of community
From a blog at the British Medical Journal and oth
William Beveridge, whose 1942 report led to the welfare state, recognised he'd made a mistake in omitting a greater role for families, communities, volunteers, civil society. “It did frankly send a chill to my heart.”
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An innovation process for a town/city
From an article by Apolitical
Towns/cities today must respond effectively to the needs of increased urbanisation. To do this, they need to learn, embrace an innovation process in their practices that involves local people and others. An example..
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In-Person - New Local: Stronger Things Conference 2026 - London
@Guildhall, Guildhall Yard London
Stronger Things is an annual opportunity to get together with the changemakers in place: local government, health partners, VCSEs, funders and the voluntary sector all under one roof for a day of inspiration, connection and learning – all focused on imagining and delivering community power in places across the UK.
Sessions include; How do we build local economies that work for people and place? Putting neighbours back into neighbourhoods. How can place-based budgeting help us build the public sector of the future? What does it take to sustain community-led initiative? How do we create the conditions for rigorous and actionable learning in place-based working? Exploring personal stories to strengthen community bonds. Digital frontiers in resident-led policymaking. Making Neighbourhood Health Neighbourhood-Led.
16/06/2026
09:00