Communities • Government Events

Videos

Enfield Council’s Approach to the Housing and Homelessness Crisis

4 minute read

Sep 2024

Joanne Drew, Strategic Director of Housing and Regeneration at Enfield Council and Co-Chair of the London Housing Directors Group, joined us at our national Homelessness Conference 2024. Joanne highlighted ongoing efforts to tackle the housing and homelessness crisis at both local and city-wide levels.

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Articles

The UK’s Top 3 Smart Cities: A Transformative Approach for Local Governments

5 minute read

Aug 2024

While cities like Singapore are leading the way globally with digital transformation, the United Kingdom is on its journey towards global smart city status. Smart city initiatives, such as in London, Manchester and Bristol are pivotal for local governments, providing them with the tools to create more efficient, sustainable, and liveable environments.

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Videos

Coventry’s Leading Digital Inclusion Program: COV Connects

3 minute read

Aug 2024

Laura Waller, the Digital Services and Inclusion Lead for Coventry City Council, joined us at our Digital Inclusion Conference 2024. Laura spearheads the COV Connects program which has made significant strides in addressing digital exclusion in Coventry.

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Articles

12 Innovative Solutions to Solve the Affordable Housing Crisis

5 minute read

Aug 2024

Only one in eight first-time buyers can afford an average first home. The affordable housing crisis is a persistent challenge faced by communities across the globe. As of 2021, approximately 8.4 million people in England were living in unaffordable, insecure, or unsuitable homes.

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Articles

Supporting Digital Inclusion: A Local Government Mandate

6 minute read

Jul 2024

The UK ranks fourth in Europe and 17th in the World for its online population. Championing digital inclusion is an essential strategy for fostering economic growth, enhancing public services, and improving the overall quality of life for their residents. This article explains how local authorities can support the digital inclusion transition in communities.

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Videos

The Power of Partnerships in Ending Homelessness with Crisis

5 minute read

Jul 2024

Finding solutions to UK Homelessness remains one of the country's most significant challenges. With approximately 309,000, or 1 in 182 people homeless in England (Shelter, 2023), we were delighted to welcome Sarah Walters to outline the vital role of partnerships in tackling homelessness.

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Videos

Learning from Commercial Activity in Local Government Over the Last Decade

30 minute watch

Aug 2023

With inflation and energy prices eating into budgets, local authorities across the UK are facing increasing challenges to deliver services. In this video, the National Audit Office discusses the capital framework guidance for local government commercial activity and the importance of low risk investments to generate income.

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Government Updates

Government Update: The Illegal Migration Act 2023

3 minute read

Aug 2023

The Illegal Migration Act changes the law so that those who arrive in the UK illegally will not be able to stay here. This update provides an overview of the key points of the act, highlighting which sections are in force now and what this means for those seeking asylum in the UK.

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Videos

Delivering Social Value for Communities through Commercial Ventures

27 minute watch

Aug 2023

In the last 10 years, local government have lost nearly £16 billion of funding in central government cuts. In this video, Sevenoaks District Council share how developments, investments and regeneration of assets have added bot social value to the local community and helped the council become self-sufficient from direct central government funding.

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Videos

Co-Producing and Delivering Refugee-Led Strategies

1 minute read

Aug 2023

Home Office figures show that the UK offered protection to 22,648 people through asylum and resettlement in the year ending March 2022. In this video, Lancashire County Council Refugee Integration Team share how they have collaborated with refugees to design and deliver strategies which are led by those with lived experience to ensure people are receiving the support they need.

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Videos

Government Guidance and Updates on Tackling Substance and Drugs Misuse

29 minute watch

Jul 2023

In 2021, there were 4,859 deaths reported deaths related to drug poisoning. In this video, the Home Office Joint Combatting Drugs Unit share the latest guidance for tackling drug and substance misuse, highlighting how authorities can learn from high performing areas to reduce drug rates.

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Articles

Universal Basic Services and Cash Payments: lessons from the Leeds City Council and Trussell Trust cash-first pilot

5 minute read

Jul 2023

Universal Basic Services is the idea of a form of social security in which a community receive free access to public services. In this article Rajiv Prabhakar, Senior Lecturer in Personal Finance at the Open University, discusses the Leeds Council cash first pilot and the way provides evidence about the ways cash and services can combine to help those in need access basic services

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