Help us test our new workshop series We’re launching a new three-part workshop series to help people navigate AI with confidence and clarity, and we need your help to make it as useful as possible. About the workshops In these sessions there are no right or wrong answers, and we’re not here to convince you
29
Jul
Jul
Over the years ODM has researched into the correlation between ward-level democracy and deprivation to understand if it is an indicator of healthy democratic representation, and if over time, reveals a picture of the shifting demographic patterns within local democratic representation. The research used data from the May 2024 local elections, and analysis reveals a
23
Jul
Jul
We often get asked why Open Data Manchester runs Joy Diversion and Free Range events when they don’t seem directly related to our core data work. The answer? They’re essential to it. Since 2018, we’ve been exploring how people relate to the places where they live, work and play—reframing these relationships through experience, interpretation and
20
Jun
Jun
Building connections across Liverpool City Region’s diverse data ecosystem Open Data Manchester has been working with the Civic Data Cooperative at the University of Liverpool to explore how a data community of practice might serve the Liverpool City Region. Through extensive conversations with individuals and organisations across the region, including with the public sector, emergency
20
Jun
Jun
I was on a panel earlier this week about the use of AI in the public sector when a question from the audience crystallised something that has been troubling me for some time. The questioner described how their department had traditionally relied on analysts to manually clean data for clinical purposes—a painstaking task that required
02
Jun
Jun
At Open Data Manchester, our data loom isn’t just a tool—it’s a reminder of Manchester’s profound lesson about technological upheaval and social consequence. When mechanisation transformed weaving, it wasn’t just an economic shift. The Luddites’ uprising challenged more than machines—they fought against the devaluation of skilled craft and human dignity. As Manchester’s population exploded with
20
May
May
Earlier this month, we held the first gathering of the Liverpool City Region data community of practice at the Civic Health Innovation Labs. The event brought together data practitioners from across public sector organisations, VCSE groups, and other data professionals to help design a community that can address shared challenges and create opportunities for collaboration.
12
May
May
This five-part blog series explores Open Data Manchester’s approach to community-led data collection, showcasing our methodology and impact across various projects. Part 4: Our Streets Chorlton – The Data Champions Model A Different Approach to Community Participation While our participatory mapping projects engaged communities through exploration and observation, Our Streets Chorlton (2021-2022) took a different
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Apr
Apr
This four-part blog series explores Open Data Manchester’s approach to community-led data collection, showcasing our methodology and impact across various projects. Part 3: Participatory Mapping – From Joy Diversion to Focused Applications The evolution of our mapping approach Over the years, we’ve developed an approach to participatory mapping that has evolved from playful urban exploration
10
Apr
Apr
Organisations across all sectors rely on data every day to inform their operations and strategies, yet the people working with data often find themselves isolated within their own teams, facing similar challenges without the benefit of shared solutions. Open Data Manchester (ODM) is working with the Civic Data Cooperative (CDC) at The University of Liverpool