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Grace Pollard

@gracepollard.bsky.social
254 followers 310 following 8 posts

Head of Policy and Insights @wearenewlocal.bsky.social local government, community power, innovation in public services, devolution. Views own.

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Reposted by Grace Pollard
New Local @wearenewlocal.bsky.social · 03/06/2025
New local government structures are on the horizon. A brilliant panel on the opportunities of LGR - and how to centre communities. 💬 Salena Mulhere (Test Valley BC) 💬 Paul Pawa (Norse) 💬 Jonathan Stephenson (@brentwoodbc.bsky.social‬) 🪑 @gracepollard.bsky.social #StrongerThings
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New Local @wearenewlocal.bsky.social · 03/06/2025
Social capital is often the missing ingredient in place-based regeneration. We’re looking at how to identify, measure & strengthen it at the hyperlocal level. 💬 Dan Crowe (3ni) 💬 @annafrancisart.bsky.social‬ 💬 Robin Fry (North East Combined Authority) 🪑 @gracepollard.bsky.social‬ #StrongerThings
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New Local @wearenewlocal.bsky.social · 03/06/2025
“If you start with people - their needs and aspirations - you would never design the system that we’ve ended up with.” “Reform, for me, has to be built from the ground up - with those that use public services & those that love them.” @georgiagould.bsky.social on the shape of public service reform
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New Local @wearenewlocal.bsky.social · 03/06/2025
Here we go… @jesstud.bsky.social & @vibrantkatiekelly.bsky.social open #StrongerThings 2025 🌟 “We gather at a time when the outlines of change have been drawn, but now it’s time for us all to bring some colour to the canvas.”
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Reposted by Grace Pollard
New Local @wearenewlocal.bsky.social · 03/06/2025
“The solutions to the seemingly intractable problems we face can be solved by the very communities we serve.” Ian Thomas, CBE, Town Clerk & Chief Executive of the City of London Corporation, sets the scene for today’s festival of community power #StrongerThings ⭐️
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Reposted by Grace Pollard
New Local @wearenewlocal.bsky.social · 02/06/2025
That’s a wrap for today! 🎬   See you bright and early tomorrow for the highlight of our year - #StrongerThings 2025 🌟   p.s. There’s still time to register to join us online 👉 www.newlocal.org.uk/strongerthin...
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Reposted by Grace Pollard
New Local @wearenewlocal.bsky.social · 02/06/2025
#StrongerThings 2025 is taking shape! 👀 sneak preview of the magnificent backdrop for tomorrow’s festival of #CommunityPower ⭐️
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Reposted by Grace Pollard
New Local @wearenewlocal.bsky.social · 27/05/2025
🎉 We have officially SOLD OUT of in-person tickets for #StrongerThings 2025! But you can still be part of the action – from wherever you are. Join us online on 3 June for livestreamed keynotes, exclusive workshops, BTS interviews + more! 🔗 Register here:
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STRONGER THINGS ONLINE - New Local
Home | Speakers | Agenda | ST Online | Partners | | Plan Your Day | FAQ | New Thinking STRONGER THINGS ONLINE Join Stronger Things 2025 from wherever you are Whilst there is nothing quite like the…
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Reposted by Grace Pollard
Platform Places @platformplaces.bsky.social · 09/05/2025
It's fantastic timing for this report from @wearenewlocal.bsky.social & @raynefoundation.bsky.social about the vital role community centres (+ assets more broadly) play in transforming neighbourhoods for local benefit — and the investment ecosystem to unlock this at scale. Read more 👇 3/ 🧵
newlocal.org.uk
“This is the place”: The case for investing in community centres - New Local
Community centres have long stood as pillars of local life, but we are losing these spaces at pace and at scale.
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Grace Pollard @gracepollard.bsky.social · 09/05/2025
Interesting work from @natcen.bsky.social showing the potential to bring deliberation into the devolution process.
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Grace Pollard @gracepollard.bsky.social · 08/05/2025
"community centres need to be recognised as a core part of the essential infrastructure of a place" - @summersimpson.bsky.social shares insights from @wearenewlocal.bsky.social report. With recommendations for local gov, policymakers & funders. www.newlocal.org.uk/articles/the...
newlocal.org.uk
“This is the place”: The case for investing in community centres - New Local
Community centres have long stood as pillars of local life, but we are losing these spaces at pace and at scale.
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Reposted by Grace Pollard
Local Trust @localtrust.org.uk · 07/05/2025
Though vital for connection, community spaces in England have been declining over the years. We welcome the launch of @wearenewlocal.bsky.social’s report which highlights how community centres are vital infrastructure for communities & why they should receive long-term funding: buff.ly/OFY7FBE [1/3]
newlocal.org.uk
Where People Meet: How We Celebrate, Sustain and Reimagine Community Centres - New Local
This report sets out the vital role that community centres play in local areas and makes the case for investing in their future.
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Reposted by Grace Pollard
Locality @locality.org.uk · 07/05/2025
New research from @wearenewlocal.bsky.social sets out the vital role that community centres play in local areas and makes the case for meaningful investment. It puts forward a vision for community centres of the future and the contribution they could make to the regeneration of our neighbourhoods⬇️
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Nick Plumb @nickplumb.bsky.social · 07/05/2025
This is a great piece of work from @summersimpson.bsky.social and the @wearenewlocal.bsky.social team. Do have a read!
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Crispin Truman @crispintru.bsky.social · 07/05/2025
Today with @wearenewlocal.bsky.social we launch our report on the value and future of community centres. A vital and neglected part of (re)building community and society in the UK, it's time to turn attention to places 'Where People Meet' @raynefoundation.bsky.social .
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Summer Simpson @summersimpson.bsky.social · 07/05/2025
It’s a very big day for me – @wearenewlocal.bsky.social launches Where People Meet: Where People Meet: How We Celebrate, Sustain and Reimagine Community Centres. www.newlocal.org.uk/publications...
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Grace Pollard @gracepollard.bsky.social · 07/05/2025
This insightful and practical report is valuable reading for local gov, NHS, funders & policymakers. With housebuilding, regeneration, prevention & neighbourhood working high on the policy agenda - it's a critical moment to reflect how we sustain and nurture this important social infrastructure.
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Grace Pollard @gracepollard.bsky.social · 02/05/2025
With the growing policy focus on working at the scale of neighbourhoods - this is a timely and thoughtful piece from @nicksinclair.bsky.social and David Robinson on "relational neighbourhoods".
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New Local @wearenewlocal.bsky.social · 30/04/2025
What does the English Devolution White Paper mean for public services? What is needed to make it work? @jesstud.bsky.social on this ➕ more on The Local Authority Podcast 🎙 “There is a deeper and more sophisticated conversation to be had about cost and spend across a place”.
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English devolution white paper: Public service reform
The English devolution white paper outlines ambitions to join up public services, hand mayors more influence over arms length bodies and give them a bigger role in other public services. What does…
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New Local @wearenewlocal.bsky.social · 28/01/2025
Power. Prevention. Place. These are the pillars of an emerging 'new local', writes Jessica Studdert in a new think piece. www.newlocal.org.uk/articles/wha... Because the system isn't unfixable - it's being mended from the ground up, alongside communities - & it's time national players took note.
newlocal.org.uk
What is the ‘new local’? Power, prevention and place - New Local
As the Government’s agenda for local government, devolution and public services takes shape, a ‘new local’ is emerging, built on the principles of power, prevention and place.
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Jessica Studdert @jesstud.bsky.social · 16/12/2024
Big day for devo & localism: the English Devo White Paper starts important discussion about practical routes to meaningfully redistribute power & rewire public services & ££ across places. We need to focus on scale for impact regions-local-community. Full @wearenewlocal.bsky.social response here:
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Grace Pollard @gracepollard.bsky.social · 13/12/2024
Great to hear @jesstud.bsky.social reflecting on how mission driven government will require a change in relationships between Whitehall and local areas. Key takeaways for me:
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New Local @wearenewlocal.bsky.social · 09/12/2024
"Rather than a zero-sum wrangle between tiers, we need to ensure empowered, confident governing institutions emerge and evolve to face out to communities" @jesstud.bsky.social on the strategy that's needed for public service reform 🔗 www.lgcplus.com/politics/dev...
lgcplus.com
Jessica Studdert: The roots of a more radical shift are being established
The government needs an overarching strategy for public service reform that dispenses with tradition...
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Jessica Studdert @jesstud.bsky.social · 09/12/2024
Good to be at Pat McFadden speech this morning announcing test & learn reforms across the country in Liverpool, Sheffield, Manchester & Essex. Important focus on shifting civil service structures away from a focus on process, towards outcomes- with emphasis on insights from the frontline.
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Jessica Studdert @jesstud.bsky.social · 05/12/2024
Missions, milestones and metrics: a 🧵 with a few thoughts on Keir Starmer’s Plan for Change, full speech here: www.gov.uk/government/s...
gov.uk
PM speech on Plan for Change: 5 December 2024
Prime Minister Keir Starmer made a speech on the government's Plan for Change at Pinewood Studios.
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