Social innovation

Capital Ideas

Publication 1 July 2010

We see innovation in action every day in our lives. When we think of innovation, most of us think of the private sector. And that’s hardly surprising since private-sector innovation accounts for more than 85 percent of economic growth in

Scaling New Heights

Publication 1 July 2010

President Clinton once said, “nearly every problem has been solved by someone, somewhere. The challenge of the 21st century is to find out what works and scale it up.” The question of scaling is a great issue for any progressive

Innovating better ways of living in later life: context, examples and opportunities

Publication 1 May 2010

The paper looks at the changing facts of ageing as both a challenge and an opportunity. The focus is in particular on the many ways in which societies are innovating better ways of living longer, better ways of providing support

The Capital Ambition guide to behaviour change

Publication 1 May 2010

Can public agencies succeed in changing individual behaviour to make society greener, healthier, more caring, less anti-social? Increasingly, local councils, health and other public bodies are trying to do this – because desirable social outcomes (or specific targets such as

Innovation and ideas development – a summary

Publication 1 April 2010

This paper rounds up the work of the London Collaborative from May 2009: it includes three innovations methods, each introduced to the London Leadership Network and explored through a practical project targeting a pressing social need. The paper outlines: Highlights

The Open Book of Social Innovation

Publication 1 March 2010

With input from hundreds of organisations, this publication explores the methods and tools for innovation being used across the world and across the different sectors.

Digging for the Future

Publication 1 January 2010

Where might we turn for inspiration for a comprehensive programme for radical change on the scale required to match the crisis we are in? A good start would be with a bunch of men in southern England, in April 1649,

Public services and civil society working together

Publication 1 December 2009

The report explores the evidence to suggest outcomes are improved when public services and civil society work hand in hand, and develops five new ways to do just that – from community entrepreneurs to asset sharing, new performance measures to

Learning and Social Innovation: Briefing on education and learning at the Young Foundation

Publication 1 December 2009

The Young Foundation has a unique record of understanding educational needs and developing innovative new ways of meeting them. Our work today aims to address the gulf which has opened up between what education systems provide and the skills and

Danger and Opportunity

Publication 1 September 2009

Danger and Opportunity – part of a series on methods and issues in social innovation – argues that the most recent economic crisis, and the increased emphasis on social innovation are both merging to create a new social economy that

Social Venturing

Publication 1 July 2009

Social Venturing – part of a series on methods and issues in social innovation – focuses on how to establish and grow a social venture. While there is a long-standing economic and managerial literature on the market economy, and methods

Breakthrough Cities

Publication 1 June 2009

Cities are where we are at our best, and worst; cities are home to many of our proudest achievements, but are also where our biggest challenges are to be faced. Problems – including inequality, crime and violence, environmental degradation –