COMMUNICITY CHALLENGES
Working with people, businesses, and organisations across Manchester to develop solutions to overcome digital, urban, and social challenges.
CommuniCity is a transformative citizen-centred EU project that engages local people, businesses, and organisations to develop tech-enabled solutions to challenges faced by marginalised communities.
By providing new insights into local community innovation processes, CommuniCity hopes to inspire inclusive and sustainable models that allow solutions to be replicated and scaled-up across Europe.
In 2024, we are excited to be one of two UK cities to take part in CommuniCity’s third Open Call to tackle social challenges. In Manchester, these challenges include breaking down barriers that prevent access to culture for people in diverse communities, and making it easier for people in poverty to find the right support.
Could you help us to make life better for people in Manchester? Find out more about how you can get involved on the CommuniCity website.
Key Information
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10th September 2024
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31st October 2024
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€12,500 per challenge
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Evaluation Weighting
Applications to CommuniCity challenges are assessed on five different criteria, with weightings tailored to the specific priorities and needs of each challenge.
In the first round, Manchester Digital Strategy’s panel of expert judges evaluate applications based on four criteria: Impact, Implementation, Excellence & Co-Creation. Successful proposals will progress to the next round, where a technical jury assess the final criterion: Technology.
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Impact
Measurability,
Outcomes,
Scaleability -
Implementation
Feasibility,
Resources,
Timeframes -
Excellence
Credibility,
Innovation,
Suitability for Need -
Co-Creation
Collaboration,
Co-Learning,
Partnerships -
Technology
Interoperability,
Toolbox Use,
Sandbox Use
CHALLENGE ONE
How can cultural activities be promoted among minority communities?
The City of Manchester has a new cultural strategy and is a northern hub for sport, events, and music. The city aims to foster and promote culture in all of Manchester’s diverse communities, whether it is in the streets, community hubs, or homes. Culture in the city is diverse, but large-scale activity and venues are largely concentrated in the city center. Despite outreach programs, financial and language barriers persist for residents who might want to access cultural events and venues.
Therefore, the City of Manchester is seeking a technology-enabled solution to help promote and support diverse cultural activities, events, and festivals within various communities. With particular regard to supporting minoritised communities living outside of the city centre, with English as second language.
The City of Manchester will host one pilot in collaboration with the Manchester Digital Strategy, Cultural Strategy and identified community groups. Applicants can suggest relevant community group stakeholders to work with although steer can be provided by the other pilot hosts.
CHALLENGE TWO
How to address poverty via a single source of information?
Despite its growth, the City of Manchester faces challenges due to high poverty rates. The abundance of support and information available to those in poverty can be overwhelming and confusing, leading to heightened mental health concerns for both those seeking support and those providing it.
The City of Manchester is seeking a solution that enables the provision of an up-to-date and culturally sensitive centralized information source accessible to grassroots organizations supporting marginalized groups facing poverty and socioeconomic disadvantage. There is a particular focus on supporting individuals in religious and racially marginalized communities.
The City of Manchester will host one pilot in collaboration with the Manchester’s Digital Strategy, Anti-Poverty Strategy and identified community groups, applicants can suggest relevant community group stakeholders to work with although steer can be provided by the other pilot hosts.
CHALLENGE THREE
How can any technology solve social challenges?
Manchester has several policies and strategies to tackle numerous challenges across poverty, climate, housing, and young people. Yet, communities often have a deeper understanding of their own challenges than city authorities. For this challenge, the City seeks individuals deeply involved in community challenges to collaborate in ideating and creating a solution.
The City is looking for any technology enabled solution to help solve any social challenge in Manchester. Proposals for this challenge must be developed through close collaboration between a technology provider and the target community members.
The City of Manchester will host one pilot. Applicants must specify the pilot host organization and submit a Letter of Intent along with their application.
