Sir Peter Wanless, CEO of the NSPCC, talks to Sally about the role that charities can play in supporting research, development and innovation in public services. Peter also reflects on his time in the civil service, and the role of evidence, data and insight in driving up the quality of schools and children's services. We discuss the importance of local services and systems understanding children and families and finding sustainable solutions that take account of different contexts (and there's a good anecdote about Ed Balls and Dolly Parton).