Leeds City Council builds strong partnerships with civil society through consistent, proactive communication and engagement. At the heart of this is the Third Sector Partnership, a strategic forum bringing together senior leaders from the Council, NHS, universities, Combined Authority, Third Sector Leeds, and other civil society representatives. This platform enables early, open dialogue on key citywide issues, to support a resilient and thriving civil society sector that continues to deliver positive outcomes for Leeds residents.

The Partnership meets bi-monthly with co-produced agendas and shares regular updates. This includes an annual overview of the council’s financial position, proposed budget, and key risks. These insights help manage expectations and inform civil society’s messaging. In addition, bi-annual breakfast meetings bring together civil society and council leaders to align on lobbying strategies and maximise social impact.

These regular engagement opportunities have helped build trust, embed civil society perspectives into strategy development, and support transparent, two-way communication. It also strengthens collaboration, helping ensure decisions stay closely aligned with community needs.

Consistent and proactive communication is supported through the provision of defined spaces for regular engagement between partners, alongside transparency in decision-making. This is important for building effective and trusted partnerships.