Local people will lead new initiative

NORTHUMBERLAND is set to be one of ten pilot areas for a new Government initiative aimed at bringing in experts to tackle the most pressing local issues.

- JAMES ROBINSON Local democracy reporter

Known as Test, Learn and Grow programmes, they will see ten communities in England get “innovation squads” as part of a £100 million reform to deliver Labour's “Plan for Change’

‘The Government say this will end the “Whitehall knows best” idea of attempting to force Westminster's solutions on areas far away from London. Instead, frontline workers and communities who “know best” will come up with new ways to fix “some of the biggest local problems” working alongside policy officials, tech specialists and other experts deployed by the Government.

Challenges the teams will look at will include increasing the uptake of Best Start Family Hubs to support parents and young children, establishing neighbourhood health services, better supporting children with special needs, getting more people into work, rolling out breakfast clubs, and tackling violence against women and girls.