Source: City of Plymouth
Plymouth has been selected by the Government to take part in a new programme aimed at transforming how public services work for real people. The “Test, Learn, Grow” initiative is all about trying new ideas, learning quickly, and improving services.
The city will be one of the first in the country to pilot this approach, focusing on health and wellbeing. It’s a big opportunity to rethink how we support residents facing complex challenges and inequalities — from children’s health to families in need, and those living with multiple disadvantages.
Councillor Mary Aspinall, Cabinet Member for Health at Plymouth City Council, said: “This is about putting people first. We’re moving away from tick-box targets and towards listening, learning, and adapting. We want to build services that work for the real world — messy, complicated, and full of human stories. Plymouth has already shown how powerful this can be, and now we’re taking it to the next level. We’re proud to be leading the way. This is about building trust, empowering communities, and making sure our services reflect the lives of the people who use them. It’s not just reform — it’s a revolution in how we care for each other.”
The pilot will embed the concept of Human Learning Systems (HLS) into the city’s Health and Wellbeing Board — a way of working that embraces human complexity and focuses on relationships, trust, and learning. Instead of assuming one-size-fits-all solutions, it asks: What’s working? What’s not? And how can we do better next week?
This follows on from some of the positive work already happening in Plymouth, including:
- A compassionate approach to children’s health that focuses on wellbeing, not just weight.
- Helping parents and carers feel heard and supported.
- Supporting people with complex lives through trauma-informed, person-centred care.
The city’s network of Wellbeing and Family Hubs, working closely with local charities and community groups, will play a key role in this transformation. The goal is to build a system that’s more responsive, more resilient, and more rooted in the communities it serves. As part of the pilot, Plymouth will test a new governance model where elected members and community partners act as “learning stewards” — listening to feedback, sharing stories, and adapting strategies in real time. It’s a shift from top-down decision-making to something more collaborative and human.