This publication from the Young Foundation presents a collection of stories about innovative and inspirational neighbourhood initiatives. They originate from a consortium of 15 councils plus national organisations that are collectively seeking modern and practical ways to support community empowerment and improve neighbourhood working. 

Senior managers in local government admit they are struggling to manage conflicting priorities. But research from the Chartered Management Institute reveals that managers and leaders in the sector are highly motivated although they worry that the challenges they face will affect their ability to perform.
The research shows that 92 per cent of senior managers in the local government sector grapple with the challenge of ‘prioritising work’. 

There are 19,689 councillors across England and only 168 of them are ethnic minority women, which is less than one per cent, despite the fact that ethnic minority women make up 4.6 per cent of the UK population. Harriet Harman, Minister for Women and Equalities, has called for more ethnic minority women to take up roles in public life and wants the number to rise to around 1,000 to make councils fully representative and strengthen local democracy.