• Text Size
  • Contrast

Principles met

  • Co-production

    We will develop systems that enable citizens to be equal partners in designing and commissioning public services and in determining the use of public resources.

  • Innovation

    We will embrace innovation in how we work with local communities to drive positive change.

  • Learning

    We will capture and ‘expand’ the experience and learning from individual projects and approaches in order to encourage broader application of co-operative principles within individual member Councils and across the Network.

  • Maximising social value

    We will support the development of a framework and criteria for social value, giving substance to the concept and supporting Councils with the tools to ensure better local social and economic outcomes.

  • New models of meeting priority needs

    In exploring new ways of meeting the priority needs of our communities we will encourage models, such as co-operatives and mutuals, which give greater influence and voice to staff and users. in designing and commissioning public services and in determining the use of public resources.

  • Walking the talk

    As a membership organisation, we will make this statement of our principles operational by: • Co-operation among members: Our members work together to help each other implement our values, sharing experiences and learning. • Openness of membership: Full, Associate and Affiliate Membership is open to any qualifying Council, organisation or individual who shares our values and is committed to putting them into action. • Co-production of the Network’s work: Members help shape the Network’s work programme and the content of events and written products. • Action-focused: The network is a vehicle for helping councils translate co-operative values and principles into policy and practice. •Membership-based: The network is majority funded by modest membership subscriptions from its member Councils, Associates and Affiliates. •Non-party-political: Members share the belief that working co-operatively within and across communities holds the key to tackling today’s challenges.

A Family Wellbeing Centre

Working through a multi-agency partnership based within local communities eight former children’s centres were redeveloped into Family Wellbeing Centres (FWC), bringing together more services to meet multiple family needs, while delivering the required budget savings. The multi-agency partnership has a shared responsibility to keep families safe; to provide an effective, efficient and co-ordinated service and ultimately to ensure young people get the best start in life. 

Before Family Wellbeing Centres were created, Brent families, parents and carers of children were unable to get the support they needed in one place. Often advice and support were also only available too late, when issues were already occurring and more difficult and costly to manage.

Family Wellbeing Centres address these issues by offering a comprehensive support system to meet the entire family’s needs in easily accessible community locations. The FWC initiative responds to the national shift towards hub-based working and comprehensive local consultation. Each shaped by a steering group of local stakeholders, the FWC are integrating working across Brent’s Early Help network to efficiently and effectively respond to the needs of local families.

For further information contact:

Back to Case Studies