3ni: The national network for neighbourhood improvement

Social capital is key in bringing communities together. But how do you measure it? We’ve developed the social capital score, in partnership with OCSI, to map out social capital where it matters the most – at the neighbourhood level, across all LSOAs in England.

This report by Local Trust and 3ni challenges traditional approaches to social mobility that focus solely on education and individual talent, arguing they fail to address deep-rooted inequalities. Instead, it advocates for a neighbourhood-level strategy that strengthens local economies and community networks to foster upward mobility in England’s most disadvantaged areas. Drawing on definitions and frameworks by Kawachi, Szreter, and Woolcock, the report outlines three types of social capital—bonding, bridging, and linking—and emphasizes that bridging capital is especially effective in connecting individuals to broader opportunities.

3ni has collaborated with OCSI, Local Trust, and Shared Intelligence to deliver an innovative counterfactual research study on the importance of residents leading change in their neighbourhoods. This work compares 29 areas with neighbourhood-led initiatives, including Big Local programme areas, to similar benchmark places without such initiatives. The findings clearly demonstrate that neighbourhood-led initiatives lead to better outcomes across multiple factors.

This reflection from St George’s House brings together local government, health partners and community leaders to rethink what neighbourhood health really requires. It argues that while fragmented initiatives and rigid systems often hinder progress, sustainable neighbourhood health depends on communities leading with support from enabling institutions. Participants highlighted the need for courageous leadership, long‑term thinking and spaces that help people connect. They concluded that neighbourhood health must grow into a wider movement, one that rebuilds trust, shifts narratives and empowers local people, supported by statutory services that create the conditions for it to thrive.

In October 2025, we organised a study visit that took local government officers to Sunderland and Gateshead to see community‑led practice in action. They explored resident‑driven neighbourhood transformation, shared community hubs and integrated family support, and learned from person‑centred work with people facing multiple challenges. In this report, we bring together all the insights from the two days.