Past Events

25th November 2025, London

Local government officers joined us for an in-person event exploring why neighbourhoods must be at the centre of policy-making and how we can rebuild them for the future.

At this event, officers had the chance to shape the Independent Commission on Neighbourhoods‘ (ICON) forthcoming report on developing a national strategy for neighbourhood reconstruction. Over the past year, ICON has been investigating the vital role neighbourhoods play in people’s lives and building practical recommendations. Their interim report highlights the untapped potential of neighbourhoods and the ways institutions can help shift power closer to communities.

They also heared from Vicki Gwynne, from the Strengthening Communities Programme at Stoke-on-Trent City Council. Vicki will share lessons from their journey of “messy exploration” with and within communities, offering valuable insights into what it takes to build a neighbourhood strategy from the ground up.

Here’s some of the content we discussed on the day:

Towards a National Strategy for Neighbourhood Reconstruction. Presentation by Andrew O’Brien, Head of Secretariat at ICON

The Stoke Story. Presentation by Vicki Gwynne, Communities Programme Lead at Stoke-on-Trent City Council

22nd October 2025, Gateshead

We held the very first North East Social Capital Summit to explore how strengthening community connections and investing in local networks can address our most pressing issues: from declining trust in institutions and widening inequality to public health and economic growth.

The summit challenged attendees to explore how resilient communities can drive change locally and create a more connected North East.

Take a look at our programme to see what we touched upon on the day.

21st-22nd October 2025, Sunderland and Gateshead

Following last year’s first study visit to Wigan, we held our fully funded study visit in the North East of England. Our first day was spent in Sunderland, learning about the council’s pioneering approach to supporting communities and neighbourhood working. On our second day, we went to to Gateshead to hear first hand about their development of liberated method. Then we took part in the North East’s Connecting Communities social capital summit, where along with local government and community leaders, academics and think tankers we explored how to best build social capital.

14th October 2025, Online

Tackling inequality and disadvantage head on by targeting resources at the most deprived areas within your patch is a brave proposal.  How transformative can this approach be within a long-term strategy?

At this How We Did It in partnership with New Local we heard from Liz Jarmin, Head of Locality Partnerships, Leeds City Council who set out the story of the work Leeds has been undertaking for the past 9 years, on testing a targeted approach to working in their most deprived wards and the results they have seen.

We explored the nuts and bolts of how the ward level approach has developed without getting additional resources from the council and how they are measuring the success of their work with their communities and partners in these wards.  We also learned how they’ve tested different engagement processes with their communities and we gained:

• Practical insights into building partnerships and sustaining momentum with no extra funding
• The difference this long-term approach has made in different wards
• How to manage the politics and local leadership to make this approach a success that works for everyone

15th July 2025, London
We had a great event that brought together our network of local government officers for the conversations and connections that matter.

Andrew O’Brien and Ben Glover from ICON, the Independent Commission on Neighbourhoods, presented the findings of their recent interim report on the importance of taking a neighbourhood-based approach to change. Participants were also able to feed into ICON’s emerging policy recommendations outlined in their Green Paper. Finally, it was an opportunity to meet with other local government officers from across the country.

Here is some of the content that was discussed at the event:

ICON’s latest findings and research. Presentation by Andrew O’Brien, ICON Head of Secretariat

A new policy agenda for neighbourhoods? Presentation by Ben Glover, ICON Head of Policy Analysis

Read the summary notes of the event.

1st July 2025 – 3rd July 2025
3ni was at the must-attend event for local government officers. At the conference, we examined, from a local authority perspective, how to identify and measure social capital and nurture and build it within neighbourhoods.

We also had the pleasure of hosting a fringe event along with New Local to discuss the importance of social capital in communities. Our panel of great speakers shared their experience and insights on working at a neighbourhoods level:

Alison McKenzie-Folan OBE , Chief Executive, Wigan Council

Deborah Stephens , CEO, Fun4Kidz & L30’s Million Big Local, Liverpool

Jon Rouse CBE , Chief Executive, Stoke-on-Trent City Council

Dan Crowe , Director, 3ni: the national network for neighbourhood improvement

We discussed how councils can use hyper-local ways of working to build community capacity, confidence and connections and develop joined-up work with other institutions to create more relational services. The panel also focused on how to use these approaches to build, rather than bypass, existing social capital within communities and how all these interventions build social capital in neighbourhoods. Read the summary notes here.

3rd June 2025

3ni shared its work and impact at Stronger Things, the conference that reimagines public services and unleashes the potential of community power in our neighbourhoods. 

At the event, 3ni Director Dan Crowe outlined why 2025 is shaping up to be a big year for neighbourhoods, and why a focus on building social capital has never been more important. Read his blog now.

3ni showcased an exhibition stand at the CCIN AGM and Conference, demonstrating our new Discovery tool, and discussing the importance of strong local social infrastructure to building inclusive and resilient community enterprises.

The event was hosted by the Royal Borough of Greenwich.

Photo credit: Ben Aldrich

In partnership with New Local, 3ni held an online event to discuss the development of neighbourhood strategies.

It featured learnings from Camden Borough Council about their route towards neighbourhood working and developing the infrastructure to make it happen, including the One Kilburn initiative.

Watch a recording of the session here: https://www.newlocal.org.uk/member/how-we-did-it-moving-towards-a-neighbourhood-strategy-2/