Search
Menu
We understand that health and well being is shaped by the places that people live, work and age, as well as the care and support they receive from their community and local services.
Across the UK, voluntary, community, public sector and anchor partners are working hard to meet people’s needs. Yet inequalities between places and groups with different economic, social and cultural backgrounds, stubbornly persist.
We help to address these inequalities, improve outcomes and strengthen the quality of care, by supporting the development of health systems which prioritise:
- Prevention and equity
- Relational practice and culture
- Shared system-wide practice
- Community-led change
Our approach
Our partners and clients, including community members and people with lived experience, tell us that:
- Working with IU builds their energy, confidence and resilience
- They feel cared for and supported, inspired and optimistic
- They value our deep sector knowledge, creativity and rigour, and our deep commitment to people and inclusion.
"The team at Innovation Unit have been brilliant to work with. 'We are innovative’ is one of Sport England’s core values. But when we began this journey, we weren’t sure what being innovative really looked like in practice, both across the organisation and the wider sector.
Now, we can talk confidently about innovation, we are clear on the role we need to play, we have a clear offer of support, and we are building the capabilities of our colleagues and our partners. Innovation Unit has been integral to that journey, mobilising the work with true passion and energy for positive change."
Allison Savich, Strategic Lead - Innovation and Digital, Sport England
How we can help
NHS, local authority and VCSFE partners
We can help NHS, local authority and VCSFE partners develop and grow integrated neighbourhood models that build on community strengths and drive systems change.
This might look like:
- Developing understanding of the needs and strengths of local people
- Creating collaborative relationships and spaces that nurture shared purpose
- Co-designing and testing new models and person-centred, strengths based practice
- Building the system conditions which enable new models to spread and scale
We can help NHS, local authority and VCSFE partners develop and grow integrated neighbourhood models that build on community strengths and drive systems change.
This might look like:
- Developing understanding of the needs and strengths of local people
- Creating collaborative relationships and spaces that nurture shared purpose
- Co-designing and testing new models and person-centred, strengths based practice
- Building the system conditions which enable new models to spread and scale
Organisations and systems
We can help organisations and systems grow your innovation culture and capabilities, and generate impactful solutions to real world challenges.
This might look like:
- Assessing your existing context and identify opportunities for development
- Training staff in innovation and design practices
- Providing dedicated delivery and learning support for implementation
We can help organisations and systems grow your innovation culture and capabilities, and generate impactful solutions to real world challenges.
This might look like:
- Assessing your existing context and identify opportunities for development
- Training staff in innovation and design practices
- Providing dedicated delivery and learning support for implementation
Local and national partners
We can help local and national partners surface insights about how to take impactful action through high quality research and learning programmes.
This might look like:
- Convening diverse perspectives and facilitating peer support
- Developing rigorous learning frameworks informed by theory and practice, generating new insights rooted in real world learning
We can help local and national partners surface insights about how to take impactful action through high quality research and learning programmes.
This might look like:
- Convening diverse perspectives and facilitating peer support
- Developing rigorous learning frameworks informed by theory and practice, generating new insights rooted in real world learning
