Can challenge prizes give solutions?

by Vicki Purewal

"Clarity of both programme design and the challenge you set are critical to success"

We explore the debate around what makes a successful prize challenge to promote public and social innovation.

Prizes in practice

NESTA’s"Social Challenge Prize Guide" explains how to find exciting grassroots projects that actually deliver.

First aid for public services

Like many of the best innovations, first aid training was a simple concept with a powerful impact – equip people with the skills to help out other people.

8. Help the social sector to help you

As cuts are made and pressure on public services mounts, it is increasingly recognised that charities, voluntary groups and enterprises will be central in creating the public services of the future.

7. Turn to your community as partners in tackling big issues

Meaningful community participation can be a powerful way to respond to social challenges and to prompt redesign of public services. With appropriate support, communities can and want to get involved.

6. Do you really know best? Service users are experts too.

Partnership with service users is part of the day job for many frontline staff. Teachers can’t teach if students don’t learn. Doctors can’t heal if patients don’t comply with treatments. And yet public services are rarely designed with these principles in mind. The implicit assumption – in design terms at least – is that service users don’t want to play more of a role, and that it’s only the domain of professionals to take decisions and direct resources.

5. Are you 'wasting' resources you don't realise you have?

Look at your services through different eyes – where are you wasting resources that could help you be more effective?

An antidote to Big Society cynicism

How one small idea in Scotland challenges the cynics who say Big Society can't work

"Here in My Car" - Aggregate the Local

Driving cars can be fun. The personal freedom, the wind in your hair and the stereo switched up to 11 while singing to Gary Numan.

Think local, act global

It is not enough to assume that scaling back the state will allow local innovation to flourish. Achieving genuine localism relies on a different kind of support from the centre.