|
Hello, and welcome back to our monthly newsletter!
Don't be surprised if you see us out and about across the city this month - we've been making the most of Manchester's fantastic co-working facilities while the City Council upgrades Wi-Fi systems in the Town Hall and Library. These vital improvements will bring faster, more reliable Wi-Fi to Central Library - helping everyone benefit from affordable, good-quality connectivity and supporting more people in Manchester to get online.
We're also excited to be growing our Digital Strategy team this year. Over the next few months, we'll be appointing a new lead for our Digital Inclusion Action Plan who'll take the lead in driving this important work forward. To be the first to hear more details, make sure to keep a close eye on our social media channels.
In this month's newsletter, we're also inviting you to join us at our interactive Celebrating Co-Creation event bringing together CommuniCity pilot partners to share insights from their experiences of community engagement and co-creation; celebrating recent awards success; and showcasing the impact of our Digital Inclusion team's inspiring partnership with XMA.
Happy reading, and see you next month!
|
|
|
We're incredibly proud to share that our People's Panel for AI project, delivered in collaboration with Manchester Metropolitan University, has been shortlisted for the Best Ethical AI Initiative as part of the National AI Awards 2025.
Open to public and private sector organisations, the National AI Awards celebrate remarkable advances and contributions in the field of Artificial Intelligence.
The People's Panel for AI aims to empower local communities to better understand the impact of AI on their everyday lives and influence the development of AI initiatives in front-line public services.
An enormous thanks to all the teams, organisations and communities that have helped make the People’s Panel for AI possible - from our brilliant project partners at MMU, to Council colleagues, panel presenters, and of course our incredible panellists!
By creating opportunities for communities to understand, influence and lead how AI is embedded in the services that impact them, we hope to work with partners across Manchester's tech ecosystem to build a fairer, better and more equal society for all.
|
Join us for an inspiring, interactive session exploring how community-led innovation is shaping the future of public services in Manchester and beyond!
In 2024, Manchester became the first UK city outside London to join the EU-funded CommuniCity programme, working with local communities, businesses, and public sector partners to co-create tech-enabled solutions to real urban challenges.
Our Celebrating Co-Creation event brings together pilot partners to share opportunities, challenges and learnings from their experiences of community engagement and co-creation. Expect thought-provoking discussions, collaborative mind-mapping, and a chance to reflect on what meaningful co-creation looks like in practice.
Are in you interested in exploring how community community-led innovation could shape more effective and inclusive public services? We’d love to welcome you to the conversation.
|
|
|
Access to a digital device can be life-changing. For communities at risk of digital exclusion, reliable access to a laptop can unlock opportunities for communication, education, and entertainment that may otherwise be out of reach.
Thanks to IT provider XMA, our Digital Inclusion team have been able to donate 333 laptops to community organisations over the last twelve months.
The impact of the donations have already made a tremendous impact across the city, helping charities to amplify the reach of their vital support, and turning ambitious initiatives into reality.
Click the link below to read the full case study and explore the difference being made in Manchester’s communities.
|
|
|
 Digital Inclusion Innovation Fund
This month, the UK government has launched a £9.5 million Digital Inclusion Innovation Fund to help councils, charities, and community organisations support residents and communities at risk of digital exclusion.
The initiative builds on the Digital Inclusion Action Plan published earlier this year and is designed to back locally delivered, highly tailored interventions that help more people benefit from the opportunities of the online world.
Grants of £25,000 to £500,000 are available to fund projects of different sizes.
To learn more about the fund, or to apply for a grant, head over to the gov.uk website by clicking on the link below.
|
|
|
Digital Inclusion Good News
Last week, the Digital Inclusion team had the pleasure of attending attending a workshop led by Manchester Metropolitan University PhD student Polina Chizhova.
Through a series of creative activities, the team explored digital inclusion within the context of Smart Cities. The workshop was also attended by artists Shelly Knotts and Gregory Herbert, who brought fresh, imaginative perspectives to how we approach digital inclusion in Manchester.
The session was a great opportunity to have an open conversation and rethink how the challenges we face in improving digital inclusion throughout Manchester's urban spaces can be addressed in a collaborative and imaginative way.
|
|
|
Every month, we'll be sharing updates, news, and opportunities from the Digital Strategy Team, our partners, and the wider digital ecosystem. Whether you're interested in collaborating, have questions, or simply want to learn more about our ambitious vision for Manchester's digital future, we'd love to hear from you!
Find out about the different ways you can reach us below:
|
|
|
|
|
