Innovation Catalyst

Despite all the good work of the last decade in local government, there is still a need within the sector to develop new approaches to delivery if we are going to meet the challenges facing public services both now and in the future.

The Innovation Catalyst is a new partnership designed to help do just this by generating, incubating and spreading innovation in local government in order to help councils meet tomorrow’s challenges of better outcomes, smarter services, and greater efficiency.

The Innovation Catalyst is a partnership with the Innovation Unit, supported and funded by the Improvement and Development Agency (IDeA).  Initially funded until March 2009, this first year is a development phase for the future work of the Catalyst. 

The project has three key strands of work:

1. A collaborative workstream on youth crime to develop and support innovative pilots in local authorities
2. The creation of local government specific resources to support and build capacity for innovation and its diffusion, including building a community of practice and online portal
3. Developing an operational and governance model for the Innovation Catalyst in the future, with a series of delivery mechanisms underneath.

The three key strands of work will begin in June 2008 and run through until March 2009

Youth crime has been chosen because there is an urgent need for innovation in the criminal justice system and ways to reduce offending. Crime prevention and reduction, as well as associated anti-social behaviour, featured heavily in the most recent submission of indicators selected by local authorities to be measured in local area agreements (LAA). This work builds on our Innovation, Justice and Youth project.

For further information about the innovation catalyst please contact Vicki Savage, vicki.savage(AT)youngfoundation.org