Network visualisation overlaid on a map of northwest England, showing interconnected nodes with varying connection strengths across Liverpool and surrounding areas.

Exploring Information Governance in Liverpool City Region’s Data Landscape

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

Shipwrecked boiler that has been corroded after over a century of weathering.

Are We Privatising Our Institutional Memory?

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

Hand drawn map of Manchester drawn by Engels and which was included in the first edition of The Plight of the English Working Classes

From Looms to Algorithms: Why Manchester’s Past Matters for Our Data Future

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

Network visualisation overlaid on a map of northwest England, showing interconnected nodes with varying connection strengths across Liverpool and surrounding areas.

Liverpool City Region Data Community Launch: What We Discovered

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.

A round table in a classroom or office kitchen setting, covered with various items related to a mapping or urban planning project. The table contains: A large map with colored sticky notes attached Smaller printed maps and documents Colorful cards or badges An orange backpack with 'Open Data Manchester' logo Various small objects like figurines and measuring tools A prominent 'Diversion' sign image In the background, there's a kitchenette with white cabinets and a sink. On the left wall, there's a green board with 'ART' written on it, showing different categories. The scene suggests an interactive, collaborative project involving city planning or community mapping.

Data For Communities: Empowering Citizens Through Participatory Approaches (Part 3)

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

Network visualisation overlaid on a map of northwest England, showing interconnected nodes with varying connection strengths across Liverpool and surrounding areas.

Building a community of practice around data for the Liverpool City Region – what we’ve learnt so far

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

Greater Manchester map, from MappingGM.org.uk

Data For Communities: Empowering Citizens Through Participatory Approaches (Part 2)

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 2: Data For Communities – Our Original Workshop Model Origins of the Programme In 2018, we began developing a series of workshops to help people engage with the wealth of open data that

Fishes' view of a plastic bag floating in water

Standardised Data: The Key to Unlocking a Circular Packaging Economy

In the realm of global sustainability challenges, packaging waste stands as a particularly visible and persistent problem. There are hundreds of millions of  tonnes of packaging produced annually  of which it is estimated that 141 million tonnes are plastics, the environmental consequences are profound. Yet amidst the discussions of material innovation and recycling technology, a