The latest from 3ni – October 2024

3ni supports local government by promoting community-led, place-based regeneration, drawing on lessons from past initiatives and the pioneering Big Local programme.

The Independent Commission on Neighbourhoods (ICON)

The Independent Commission on Neighbourhoods (ICON) was launched last month with Baroness Hilary Armstrong, former Minister for Social Exclusion, serving as its Chair. It will rigorously examine the role of neighbourhood focused regeneration as a contribution to achieving wider social and economic objectives and will establish ‘what works’ by drawing on both international and domestic evidence. ICON will focus on tackling the major challenges facing the country’s most disadvantaged communities.  

While funded by Local Trust, the Commission will operate independently with its own secretariat, taking a collaborative approach, involving policymakers and individuals with first hand experience of neighbourhood deprivation. Individuals and organisations are invited to contribute evidence to inform their work, responding to questions available on their website. The window for submissions will be open until the end of 2024.

Neighbourhoods in action report

Today, 3ni launches our new report Neighbourhoods in action, in collaboration with Local Trust and Shared Intelligence. It examines how local authorities in England are using neighbourhood approaches to support their most disadvantaged areas. The report focuses on 194 English local authorities with areas in the most disadvantaged 10% based on the Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD). It explores how local authorities are identifying which disadvantaged neighbourhoods to target with neighbourhood initiatives.

The report makes the case that there is a great benefit to placing local public services geographically close to residents - especially when it comes to tackling disadvantage and reducing inequalities. 

Breaking the cycle report 

Last week, Local Trust, and the Centre for Progressive Policy (CPP), published a report, Breaking the cycle: Delivering good jobs for ‘doubly disadvantaged’ neighbourhoods. The report focuses on the cumulative challenges faced by the 2.3 million people in England living in left behind neighbourhoods - those that face both high material deprivation and low levels of social infrastructure.  

Our policy officer Kyle Vanelli explores how we can help remove barriers to good work in doubly disadvantaged neighbourhoods in our latest blog.   

Join us at the LGA Conference

3ni will be hosting an exhibition stand at the LGA Annual Conference and Exhibition in Harrogate from today, Tuesday October 22, until Thursday 24 October 2024.  

We will also be hosting a fringe session on the future of neighbourhoods policy, in partnership with New Local, with a panel of expert speakers:   

• Matt Leach, Chief Executive, Local Trust   

• Cllr Jane Ashworth OBE, Leader, Stoke-on-Trent Council  

• Patrick Melia, Chief Executive, Sunderland City Council   

• Anna Francis, Co-director, Portland Inn Project  

• Jessica Studdert, Interim Chief Executive, New Local   

The session will take place on Tuesday 22 October, from 4:30-6:30 PM. If you want to attend please RSVP by emailing events@newlocal.org.uk  

Stay up-to-date

Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions at Daniel.Crowe@localtrust.org.uk.