Collaborative places and neighbourhoods
Tackle challenges by working together with communities and across sectors.
Case studies
At a time when local resources and funds are as scarce as they’ve ever been, working together to tackle challenges and putting people at the heart of this work, has never been more needed, but this doesn’t always come naturally to systems and organisations operating in communities and places.
We support local authorities and other organisations working in communities take on up their role as system stewards, and even, place leaders. Looking beyond boundaries and working together to truly tackle the complex challenges in neighbourhoods and places.
How can we help?
We understand that improving outcomes for communities means collaboration across all sectors in a place.
We help you strengthen local partnerships and teams based on collaborative foundations such as a shared vision, strong relationships, collaborative behaviours and understanding the means for collaborative action.
We can help you to work alongside citizens to build community capacity and capability; for example, by co-locating services to work together at a hyper-local scale.
Find out more
Email [email protected] to find out more or for a conversation.
When supporting us to develop Progress with Unity, our new ten-year movement for change, Collaborate was an extension of our Wigan team—engaged, genuine and fully committed to our place. They brought the perfect mix of challenge, realism and strategic insight, helping us navigate a period of significant change and strengthening our relationships with communities and the VCFSE sector at a pace we could never have achieved alone. Collaborate went above and beyond in their ability to respond to evolving briefs, build trust with partners at every level, and provide honest, human support. They made a profound difference to our approach which will continue to shape our partnerships and neighbourhood model for years to come.
Alison McKenzie-Folan OBE, Wigan Council
Insights
Neighbourhoods and places
Dec 11th 2025
Insights Local government Local government reorganisation Place-based partnershipsPeople, purpose and power
Five pioneering councils have teamed up with Collaborate CIC to share insight, solve problems collectively…
Apr 11th 2025
Collaborating with communities Insights Local government Local government reorganisation Place-based partnerships ReportsPeople, purpose and power for a new era
New partnership approaches are needed to tackle the challenges at the heart of local government,…
Feb 20th 2025
Insights Local government Local government reorganisation Place-based partnerships Reports Voluntary and communityA new era for Wigan Borough: from The Deal to Progress with Unity
The Wigan Deal is one of the most recognised and celebrated approaches to reform in…
Apr 14th 2022
Insights Local government Place-based partnershipsWhat does it take to change local systems?
What does it take to change local systems? Following on from two previous blogs (here and here)…
Apr 22nd 2021
Insights Local government Place-based partnershipsWatford’s Road to Renewal
Through 2021 the Collaborate team is exploring how learning from the response to the pandemic…
Nov 17th 2020
Insights Local government Place-based partnershipsNotes from the field: Oldham – Developing a collaborative Early Years strategy
Participation and ownership as keys to effective strategy One of the last pieces of face-to-…
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