News from mySociety

Research

We're looking for a researcher

We've got a really interesting piece of work to commission, around how much the general public understands local government and their role in the UK's carbon reduction targets.

If you're a researcher with some understanding of the local government landscape, please do have a read of our call for proposals — and it would also be very helpful to share it in relevant communities. Thanks!

Better commissioning

If you read that call for proposals and found it refreshingly comprehensive, there's a reason for that.

Thanks to some industrious investigation by Gavin Freeguard, we now know much more about making the research commissioning process a harmonious and productive one.

Gavin's shared his findings in a report, so this knowledge can have the maximum benefit across the sector.

mySociety

Our year in review

And SocietyWorks' Year in Review goes through everything you need to know about our commercial subsidiary's activity, from which councils use our software to what sort of savings they've made by doing so.

Events

TICTEC Civic Tech Surgery #2: Accessibility and inclusivity

Climate

What we did in December

Last month, it was Zarino's turn to share what we've been up to on the Climate programme. In a nutshell: really quite a lot!

You can read more about the many new features on CAPE, our Climate Action Plans Explorer, here.

... and, watch this space!

Our own carbon

Of course, it's all very well our scrutinising other organisations' climate plans — but what are we doing closer to home?

Most recently, mySociety made a tricky decision around carbon offsetting. Tricky because we know it's not a perfect solution — but it's better than doing nothing while we explore other options.

Want more on climate?

We're adding new features and tools to the Climate Action Plans Explorer all the time. If you'd like to know when there's something new to try out, subscribe to our Climate mailing list.

Call-outs

Messages from our network

News from other organisations that you might find of interest:

Action around the Elections Bill

Make Votes Matter and other democracy sector organisations are organising a protest against the Elections Bill on 5 February. Speaking at the protest will be a cross-party selection of speakers. Find more details here.

Do you have a responsibility for climate?

University of Surrey’s Centre for Environment and Sustainability want to know: do you have a responsibility to monitor, report, evaluate or be held to account on the delivery of climate and ecological measures or working towards net zero in your organisation? If so, they'd appreciate your responses to their survey by 11 February.

What we're reading

• Lower the voting age to six... sounds crazy, right? Some of mySociety were surprised to find the arguments presented quite persuasive.
• Right Here is pushing for a Community Power Act. See what that means here.
• In on the Wordle craze? mySociety developer Matthew built some tools you might like.
• On which subject, disappointing tapir news.

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