What is Act Locally? 

 

 

Improving the life chances of Bradford's children through health and education requires a whole system, evidence based approach. This is Act Locally. 

 

Our Act Locally partnerships in Bradford are effective community hubs. We are bringing together local policy makers (from health, education, care, and policing), academic experts, front line practitioners, and community residents, to provide an integrated, evidence-led response to local needs.

The programs championed by Act Locally are driven by insights from data science (provided by our research partner, the Centre for Applied Education Research) and local intelligence from teachers, other public service practitioners, and communities.

Each partnership is specific to an area. We currently have identified three areas of the Bradford District: Holme Wood, Manningham & Girlington and Keighley Central. These areas were identified based on their levels of multiple deprivation. Built around and led by local schools, each partnership has agreed on a set of priorities, the critical actors in each area, and the key mechanisms for change. 

 

Why Act Locally?

 

Schools, nurseries and other educational establishments have become the critical anchor institutions within our most disadvantaged communities. However, schools are increasingly struggling with the day job – educating children – because of the issues playing out in children’s lives on the other side of the school gates. The data shows the urgent need to prioritise children, as this is when interventions are the least expensive and the most effective. Act Locally recognises that if we want to improve outcomes across health and education, schools need to be at the heart of public service delivery. This is why we have chosen to act with and through schools and educational settings. 

Moreover, teachers and educational leaders are working with one hand tied behind their back - the fundamental problem is that our systems are fragmented. Children from low income families that face multiple disadvantages and the help they get is often uncoordinated and challenging to access. Act Locally acts as an engine to facilitate collaboration across health, education and other public services, and collectively improve outcomes for all. 

The Bradford District is made up of communities with very different needs, and we need to tailor policies to reflect the priorities of the people who live in these places. Act Locally is our answer to localising place-based delivery with the people and the communities that work and live there.

 

 

 

 

Our ambition is for each of our Act Locally areas to

 

 

 

Agree a collective Statement of Intent 

This will outline the chosen issue, agree a set of actions that can be implemented by the organisations represented in the convening partnerships and produce a clear set of recommendations to secure permissions and resources from local stakeholders. 

Use a community budget

To commission interventions and support from voluntary and community organisations to help tackle the chosen issue. 

Develop schools and other education settings as wellbeing hubs

By providing integrated cradle-to-career support, they will enable families to access more quickly and more easily. 

Utilise the data insights from our partner, the Centre for Applied Educational Research 

CAER will provide our convening partnerships with useful insights which will help us further understand the chosen issue and make better evidence informed decisions.

 

 

 

Please view our key documents below

 

You can download our Conditions to Success and Background and Context here.