BARNSLEY is set to benefit from better public services with so-called ‘innovation squads’ sent in to back community ideas as part of a £100m programme.

The teams, deployed to places from central government, will work alongside council and its service users to tackle the biggest challenges directly affecting local communities and people under the ‘Test, Learn and Grow’ initiative.

Instead of trying to devise solutions from Whitehall, the teams will work directly with affected communities to test out what works, it was confirmed this week.

Challenges the teams will look at will include increasing the uptake of Best Start Family Hubs to support parents and young children, establishing neighbourhood health services, better supporting children with special needs, getting more people into work, rolling out breakfast clubs, and tackling violence against women and girls.

Cabinet Office Minister Georgia Gould said: “For too long residents and frontline workers have had to navigate fragmented and underfunded public services, people feeling like they have to arm up to battle to get the support they need. We are going to end this.

“This programme will bring the centre of government out of Whitehall and into communities, working with those who deliver and use public services to solve problems together, as part of our Plan for Change.

“We will reform public services from the ground up so people always come first.”