We brought together intelligence and information from members into a set of thoughts and recommendations on what levelling up could and should look like and sent them to Neil O'Brien MP - who has been appointed by Boris Johnson to produce a Levelling Up White Paper - to inform his thinking.
We set out that levelling up should be a place-based set of policies, decisions and actions which aim to create thriving, proud and valued communities - especially when building a post-Covid environment. These need to be locally led, sustained over time and be supported by national programmes.
Our vision is for every place to be somewhere anyone wants to live, work or visit. That every community is clean, safe and cared for, and has the resources to make residents feel valued and connected.
We identified eight areas of focus to be adapted and developed according to local need:
One point we wanted to bring out strongly is that the VCSE is paramount to the success of levelling up. That local communities are best placed to understand the need in their area, and called for a system-wide approach built on trust, mutual respect and understanding.
The levelling up fund being offered raises concerns around a focus on “hard” infrastructure rather than social infrastructure; and a risk of perpetuating a competitive environment rather than fostering partnerships.
To address this we have put forward seven recommendations for the Levelling Up White Paper:
So what next? We keep up the pressure. Levelling up was a main point in the Conservative manifesto. Used properly it could significantly benefit many communities. We will continue to engage with Neil O'Brien MP to champion the value of place-based decisions and the expert knowledge of local communities.
Download a copy of our 'Levelling Up - the view from local infrastructure' paper which was sent to Neil O'Brien MP in June 2021.
As a direct result of the coronavirus outbreak, local authorities across England are issuing dire warnings. They are facing financial challenges which are unprecedented, and that their financial stability is, in places, in question.i
In this article:
The King’s Fund was commissioned by the Department of Health to conduct research that would explore how and why clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) and local authorities chose to engage with the voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) sector. This report first sets out the methodology used and then presents findings on the factors that underpin the adoption of different approaches. The report's authors discuss how commissioners’ perceptions of their own strategic role, as well as their views on what role the VCSE sector plays in the local area, appear to exert a strong influence on commissioning decisions.
Brexit is the firing gun on a decade of disruption. As the UK negotiates its new place in the world, an accelerating wave of economic, social and technological change will reshape the country, in often quite radical ways. In this report, the IPPR sets out five powerful trends that will drive change in the 2020s.
The report of the House of Lords Select Committee on the future of charities.
If the current political context teaches us anything, it is that we are in complex times. Complexity of need is increasing and old certainties about the role of state, economy and society are being thrown into question. Our assumptions about what people want, need and aspire to, are changing. Our places are recognised as complex systems, influenced by many but controlled by none. Report published by Collaborate.
This report describes the SPOC model, how it works, the value it can bring and the critical elements of a successful SPOC. It also provides examples of where a SPOC is already allowing people to benefit from improved commissioning
NAVCA's submission to the government's recent Civil Society Strategy listening exercise was based on wide consultation with members.
You can read our full response and the letter we sent to the Minister, Tracey Crouch, here.
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