Voter ID Certification Support Available
 You will need a registered form of identification to be able to vote at a polling station during the upcoming elections. In cases where you don't have an acceptable form of ID, you can apply for a voter ID certificate online.
If you need help with this process, our libraries are running local voter ID sessions throughout Manchester. Staff will be on hand with mobile phones to help you apply online and to help take a photo for your ID. For more information on the list of libraries and the sessions available, please visit Support to apply for free voter ID | Voter ID | Manchester City Council
If you would like support from your home, our Digital Champion volunteers can help you with the application. They can support you either online or on phone. Please email digitalinclusion@manchester.gov.uk or text 07860 064128.
To apply for a Voter ID certificate, visit: Applying for a Voter Authority Certificate | Electoral Commission
Deadline: 26th June 2024 at 5:00pm
People's Panel for AI Project
 Over the last few months, the Manchester Digital Strategy team have supported the delivery of 5 interactive AI training & discussion sessions within community spaces in Cheetham Hill, Miles Platting & Newton Heath, Harpurhey, & Moston. These AI Roadshows are part of the first phase of the People’s Panel for AI project, developed in collaboration with The Manchester Metropolitan University. The initiative aims to democratise approaches to AI by empowering residents with the knowledge & skills to meaningfully shape the use of AI in front line service delivery.
During each hour-long roadshow session, researchers Keeley Crockett, Annabel Latham, and Dr Mohammed Kaleem facilitate an introduction to AI, its applications, & its impact on everyday life. Using Ready, Steady, Cook style voting cards, residents and researchers come together to discuss & debate real-life use cases of AI. Some of the topics explored include the trustworthiness of automated decision-making in social care scenarios; the benefits of adopting a robot pet; and whether or not you'd allow your grandmother to use a self-driving wheelchair!
Initial feedback to the roadshows has been extremely positive. To date the sessions have engaged 41 residents from communities across Manchester, with over half of participants expressing interest in becoming part of the People’s Panel for AI. The People’s Panel, launching in June, will enable local people to apply their training to real-world use cases by sharing concerns, insights, & feedback on potential applications of AI in service delivery at Manchester City Council.
If you would like to be involved in a future roadshow or People's Panel, get in touch at manchesterdigitalstrategy@manchester.gov.uk.
Bridging the Digital Divide in Manchester: OJ Solutions' Approach to Digital Inclusion
 OJ Solutions firmly believes that digital inclusion is crucial for fostering a thriving and equitable community in Manchester. The company’s approach is hands-on and tailored to meet the unique needs of its clients, ensuring that everyone, regardless of background, can access and benefit from modern technology.
OJ Solutions prides itself on understanding the specific challenges faced by different communities. Their dedicated team visits sites to grasp the local context, enabling them to provide customised digital solutions that truly make a difference. One of their standout initiatives is a mentorship program for young teens, aimed at equipping them with essential digital skills. This program not only imparts technical knowledge but also builds confidence and opens up future opportunities for the participants.
One of OJ Solutions' proudest achievements is the positive feedback received from mentees, who now feel more connected and capable in today’s digital age. By focusing on personal interaction and bespoke solutions, OJ Solutions is not just bridging the digital divide but also building lasting relationships within the community.
OJ Solutions is committed to making Manchester a beacon of digital inclusion. Together with the community, they strive to ensure that no one is left behind in the digital revolution.
Learn more about OJ Solutions.
FREE Employability Program from MEaP
 Join Our FREE Employability Program!
This 12-week training program offers essential IT skills, coaching, and wellbeing sessions designed to boost your confidence and prepare you to rejoin the workforce. It’s perfect for long-term unemployed individuals with low IT skills seeking to re-enter the job market. Whether you’re an adult who took a career break due to illness or caregiving, or a young person no longer in education or training, this program is here to help you get back on track.
Wythenshawe Community Housing Group's Digital Inclusion Sessions
Wythenshawe Community Housing Group’s Digital Inclusion Sessions are expanding – we are now running 7 sessions a week throughout Wythenshawe. We can support with anything digital from setting up new devices to support with online forms. Our sessions are mainly run on a drop in basis and are open to everyone that is need of support.
For more information contact Alasdair Richard on 07580 870450 or email alasdair.richard@wchg.org.uk or call Benchill Community Centre on 0161 9469520
Let's Get Digital Summer Poster Competition
 This summer, we're giving you the chance to win a £100 gift card and to have your artwork be used to promote Get Online Week activities in October.
To be in with a chance of winning, all you need to do is send in a piece of art that captures the meaning of digital to you.
It can be an artistic picture of someone using a computer, a model made in blender, something AI generated or something completely different, and it doesn't even need to be made on a computer! You can send in handmade art through to our inbox, or scan it and email it to us.
Your artwork will be used to promote any activities happening during Get Online Week, which runs from October 14th to October 20th.
Send your submissions to digitalinclusion@manchester.gov.uk
or
post your entry to:
Digital Inclusion Team, Town Hall Extension, Manchester City Council, M60 2LA
Deadline for submissions is the 18th of August 2024
The winner will be notified on the 23rd of August 2024
The £100 gift card has been donated by Good Things Foundation, a nationwide charity focused on digital inclusion, bridging the digital divide and minimum digital living standards.
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