The Future Governance Forum (FGF) has today launched the Social Insights Panel, a new group of civil society leaders who will use their expertise and experience of complex challenges facing individuals, families and communities to enhance government decision-making. In its launch phase, the Social Insights Panel will seek to influence the Cabinet Office’s Test, Learn and Grow programme with insights from civil society, which is pioneering locally informed approaches to public service reform.
Led by Polly Neate CBE, former CEO of Shelter and Women’s Aid, FGF Policy Associate, the Social Insights Panel brings together experienced voices from the civil society sector, including:
- Mike Adamson CBE, former Chief Executive of the British Red Cross, Chair St Mungos
- Anand Shukla, Chief Executive of the Henry Smith Foundation
- Ruth Ibegbuna, Founder of RECLAIM, The Roots programme and Rekindle School
- Becky Rogerson MBE, former CEO of My Sister’s Place and Wearside Women in Need and she now serves as Director of RIVA and Non-Executive Director for a housing association
- Caroline Slocock, Co-founder of the Better Way Network and former Downing Street Private Secretary
- Chris Wright, former Chief Executive of Catch22
- Kirsten Westlake, CEO of Two Magpies Fund and co-founder of the Violence Against Women and Girls charity, Let Me Know.
In its first phase, the Social Insights Panel will focus on three themes aligned with the government’s Test Learn and Grow programme and with a focus on prevention:
- Violence Against Women and Girls: exploring how to strengthen early, needs-led support and reduce repeat victimisation
- Transitions to Adulthood: examining how systemic barriers in education, work, and community life undermine young people’s progress
- Integrated Family Support: learning from Sure Start and family hub models to prevent family breakdown and reduce the number of children entering care.
Polly Neate, Convener of the Social Insights Panel and FGF Policy Associate, said: “To reform public services or set policy direction on some of our most intractable societal challenges without the wisdom of civil society would be a dangerous error. Civil society leaders nationally and in communities hold a wealth of knowledge and experience about why these challenges arise and how to address them. But often their views are not sought outside of the silos of government departmental priorities. The Social Insights Panel will create a space where that knowledge can be brought into government decision-making at an early stage, so cross-cutting policy is shaped by lived experience, best practice and systemic understanding. In its first phase, the Social Insights Panel will work to tackle three major issues: violence against women and girls, transitions to adulthood and integrated family support.”
Anand Shukla, Chief Executive of the Henry Smith Foundation, said: “We believe lasting social impact comes from funding and creating space for meaningful collaboration. That’s why the Henry Smith Foundation is pleased to support the Social Insights Panel, which will connect civil society expertise directly with government. Philanthropy has a key role in enabling this kind of structured partnership between civil society, government and other key decision-makers, and I look forward to seeing the panel bring the knowledge and expertise of civil society into the heart of government policy-making.”
Mike Adamson CBE, member of the Social Insights Panel, said: “The UK’s civil society sectors have long been at the forefront of innovation and systems change. The Social Insights Panel is a chance to make sure that innovation informs national policy.”
The Social Insights Panel will be supported by the Better Way Network (bringing practitioner voices). The first phase of the Social Insights Panel is supported by the Henry Smith Foundation and run in partnership with Better Way. The Social Insights Panel will meet today for the first time, with its findings published in a series of reports.
