£1 million Transformation Fund to back community-driven solutions on housing, mental health, and economic opportunity
Clackmannanshire Council has approved a bold new approach to public service delivery, putting local residents at the centre of decision-making through a pioneering “Transformation Space” model.
Unveiled at a council meeting on March 20, the plans mark a major step in the council’s Be the Future programme, which aims to overhaul how services are delivered and how public funds are used. Under the new system, a citizen-led panel will identify local priorities and decide how funding should be allocated—marking a shift away from traditional top-down service design.
“This new approach will change the way we deliver services, focusing on continuous improvement, and making sure we listen to and meet the needs of the people we serve,” said Council Leader Ellen Forson. “I believe the work we’re doing in Clackmannanshire will set an example for others to follow.”
The Transformation Space will operate by removing long-standing funding silos in the public sector, allowing investment to flow directly to citizen-backed solutions. In its first year, the council will establish a Transformation Fund of up to £1 million, targeted at tackling key challenges such as:
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Housing and homelessness
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Mental health and wellbeing
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Economic opportunity
The fund will also be open to contributions from other public sector partners, as well as private and third-sector investors. Several trusts and foundations have already expressed interest in supporting the initiative.
Developed with backing from The Hunter Foundation and drawing on innovative UK and international models, the plan builds on successful local projects such as the Family Wellbeing Partnership, STRIVE (Safeguarding Through Rapid Intervention), and WM2U (What Matters to You).
A wide-ranging Citizens Panel, with members drawn from across the community, will be central to the model. Panel members will receive training to ensure full and equitable participation in identifying solutions to complex issues, based on lived experience.
Sir Tom Hunter, founder of The Hunter Foundation, praised the council’s leadership: “Clackmannanshire Council are putting community and people at the heart of all that they do, designing services around need, not processes and procedures. We very much hope many more councils—and indeed the Scottish Government—will follow their lead.”
Inspired by the vision of the late Campbell Christie’s Commission on the Future Delivery of Public Services, the council’s initiative is being described as one of the most ambitious community-led transformations in Scotland.
