Today marks day one of the 100 Day Challenge in Liverpool, where three teams will be coming together to test ideas that support children, young people and families in their neighbourhoods to thrive.
Liverpool City Council, Liverpool Charity and Voluntary Services and Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust has worked with community partners and residents to invite teams to take part from Anfield and Everton, Princes Park and Speke-Garston. They will be supported by innovation charity Nesta, charitable trust Power to Change, and local decision-makers to bring to life ideas they think will change things for the better.
A ‘100 Day Challenge’ brings people together to try new ideas where they live or work over 100 days. The approach gives people closest to their communities, such as doctors, youth workers or community businesses, the opportunity to combine their skills and experience to drive change. Teams then work with local leaders to integrate ideas that they have tested into ongoing plans to sustain the impact made when the 100 days are up.
The decision to focus on improving young people’s life chances stems from the fact that over one in three children in Liverpool lives in poverty, with the three teams coming from some of the top 10% most deprived neighbourhoods in the UK. The cross-disciplinary teams will work as effective partners with families and communities to ensure children and young people have the best possible opportunities to reach their full potential.
Nesta has been running 100 Day Challenges across the UK for five years, helping public services and places to collaborate, learn and experiment. The structured innovative method has been applied to a vast number of issues, everything from reducing A&E admissions of elderly patients to creating opportunities for those with learning disabilities to shape the care they receive.
Sophie Mckechnie, Senior Programme Manager at Nesta, said: “We’re looking forward to seeing how teams use the 100 Day Challenge to build on the activity already happening in their neighbourhoods. Liverpool has a unique history and spirit and we’re excited to see how the Challenge can provide a platform for citizens and communities to continue to drive change through trying out bold and innovative ideas.”
Liverpool City Council’s Cabinet Member for Communities and Partnerships, Councillor Liz Parsons from the Council said: “This is a great opportunity for us to listen and learn from the people who know our communities best and support them to unlock their collective strengths.
“We want to build a better, more equitable city where everyone benefits from the opportunities Liverpool has to offer.
“The 100 Day Challenge is a step towards a different kind of partnership working, where we focus on the things that matter most to local people and collectively have a bigger impact.”
Richard Harries, Director of Power to Change’s Research Institute said: “We strongly believe that places are made better by collaborative working and community business, so we’re really excited to be involved in this project. Liverpool City Region is one of our priority places and this is one of many innovative ideas being trialled in the area. We look forward to working in partnership to bring this to life.”
