What Works Scotland operated from 2014 to 2019 and is now closed.

Please direct any enquiries to Policy Scotland: admin@policyscotland.co.uk

What Works Scotland

What Works Scotland

Supporting effective public services in Scotland

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public service reform

Collaborative Action Research and public services – insights into methods, findings and implications for public service reform

A working paper examining the findings of four What Works Scotland researchers during a three-year programme to explore collaborative action research with four community planning partnerships.

Emma Baird December 4, 2018 Read more

Participatory budgeting

Our work on participatory budgeting (PB) explores how PB supports public service reform and participation in democracy and decision-making.

Emma Baird November 1, 2018 Read more

Our impact

What Works Scotland’s impact on long-term change in public services and putting Christie into practice, including our impact and activities in Scotland, the UK and abroad.

Lucy Janes October 10, 2018 Read more

Webinar: Transforming communities? Exploring the roles of community anchor organisations in public service reform – supporting, leading and challenging?

Webinar looking at the role of community anchors in public service reform, drawing on our research report on community-led, holistic community organisations.

Lucy Janes October 5, 2018 Read more

Making data meaningful: Evidence use in a community planning partnership in Scotland

Case study report that highlights the complex and diverse ways in which public services use evidence in decision-making processes using information gathered from a Scottish community planning partnership.

Emma Baird September 5, 2018 Read more

Think piece: Community-led solutions within multi-layered partnership working

Reflections by a local development worker on the challenges of encouraging and supporting community interest in developing, designing and delivering effective, local solutions in partnerships.

Emma Baird July 13, 2018 Read more

Blog: Why and how ‘what works’ is important for Scotland

As chief researcher at the Scottish Government, Zoe Ferguson was instrumental in establishing What Works Scotland. in June 2015 she reflected on the journey so far.

Emma Baird July 11, 2018 Read more

Blog: Shifting public services to focus on prevention: Impediments & implications

What Works Scotland directors James Mitchell and Ken Gibb examine prevention and what, in March 2015, stands in the way of making progress in a shift to focusing on prevention in public services.

Emma Baird July 11, 2018 Read more

Blog: What might the Capabilities approach bring to public service reform in Scotland?

Richard Brunner and Nick Watson of What Works Scotland explore the concept of ‘capabilities’ as a framework for public service reform.

Emma Baird July 11, 2018 Read more

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About us

What Works Scotland was an initiative to improve the way local areas in Scotland use evidence to make decisions about public service development and reform. It explored how public services could start to work towards the recommendations of the Christie Commission on the Future Delivery of Public Services and the Scottish Government’s priorities for reform. ...

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RSS   Blog

  • What Works Scotland closed but resources still available February 18, 2020
  • Extending the community sector inquiry through a cross-sector learning community? June 5, 2019
  • Community-led activity: time to invest in expansion June 5, 2019
  • Tackling inequalities by supporting 'enterprising' communities June 5, 2019
  • Exploring community anchors, public service reform... and the wider local community sector June 5, 2019

Tags

Aberdeenshire alcohol asset-based community development CAR Christie Commission co-production collaboration Collaborative Action Research community anchors community empowerment Community Empowerment Act community planning Community Planning Partnerships community plannning community sector data democracy education evaluability assessment evaluation evidence evidence bank evidence to action Fife health inequality learning participative decision-making participatory budgeting partnership policy-making poverty prevention public service reform refugees Sarah Morton Scottish Approach Scottish Government service design third sector Thriving Places West Dunbartonshire What Works Scotland workforce young people

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