Case studies

This case study is an example of the practical use of asset-based approaches in communities.

Data driven solar installation plan to power the Blackpool Council’s housing portfolio.

Dacorum Borough Council has piloted a ‘Local Working Group' bringing together 23 staff from different teams to work alongside each other for one week.

The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, and Westminster City Council, known as London’s Bi-Borough, adopted a collaborative approach to drive transformation in 2018 with the ambition of being the number one SEND service in the country; a target which has been accomplished.

The pandemic and the cost of living resulted in the council recognising the importance of getting hardship funds to struggling households as quickly and effectively as possible. In response, a ‘cash-first’ approach to grant provision has been adopted which involves the prioritisation of cash grants over in-kind support such as food parcels or shopping vouchers.

Barking and Dagenham Council has led on the creation of a new standalone financial guidance and support website called Barking and Dagenham Money, a focal point for the Council’s communications and support relating to the escalating cost of living crisis.

Social prescribing is delivered in Barking and Dagenham as a service embedded within the local authority, working in partnership with other statutory services within the council.

The London Borough of Barking and Dagenham made proactive calls to residents at summons stage for council tax arrears to see if they could set up a payment plan or needed support in February 2021. This increased the numbers of payment plans set up and residents appreciated the approach. 

Barnet has increasing numbers of Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children (UASC) moving into their area, all needing tailored support from social, welfare and educational services up to the age of 25. Based on experience, the council is developing a specialist team particularly skilled and experienced to work with UASC. This team has identified gaps in UASC support locally, such as educational engagement and access to finances, and has taken steps to address these.

This case study details the journey that London Borough of Bexley Council has been on in the design and tender launch of a new homelessness social impact bond (SIB) service. The technical support that we commissioned using the Housing Adviser Programme grant funding has been integral to this journey and offered the SIB expertise for devising the service outcomes, developing the operational model and advising on procurement. The £1.6 million SIB contract was awarded in September.