Subject Matter Presentation 1C: Community Enabler Models: A Different Future for Public Services

As demand increases and resources remain stretched, many councils are rethinking their role within the communities they serve. Rather than delivering solutions alone, a growing number of public sector organisations are creating the conditions for residents, community groups and local networks to play a greater role in shaping places and tackling local challenges. Through award-winning examples from across the UK, this session explores how councils are using community empowerment, digital innovation and service redesign to unlock local capacity, strengthen resilience and build a more sustainable model of public service. The discussion asks a compelling question: could the future of transformation lie not in bigger systems, but in stronger communities?