This could be the most interesting hour of your week

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** News, opportunities and events
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** August 2022
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Transparency


** This could be the most interesting hour of your week
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WhatDoTheyKnow, our Freedom of Information service, is looking for people to help make sure that their extensive list of public authorities is all up to date — and stays that way.

If you'd like a work-from-home volunteer position that will give you a wealth of new skills and is never boring, check out the requirements here ([link removed]) before August 18. Volunteers work as many or as few hours as suits them, on a flexible basis.
Climate


** What civic tech needs in the climate emergency
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Civic Tech Surgery #5

'Librarians' that can guide non-experts through complex climate data, perhaps? Or funding for journalists working in under-reported areas? How about just setting up a table at the next climate protest?

These were some of the wide-ranging ideas that emerged during TICTeC Civic Tech Surgery #5, and they'll be taken forward to help inform a working group's decisions on how to deploy a small grant. Catch up with the video and detailed notes here ([link removed]) .
A flight of steps with 'all ideas grow out of other ideas' painted on them in white.


** Innovations in climate tech
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** September 21
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This online event will bring together innovators and councils for a showcase of projects making a difference at the local level. All are welcome - pop the date in your calendar and we'll follow up with more details soon.

If you're building or running an innovative climate project, come and see if there's a council interested in trying it out! The day will include the opportunity to share your own climate-related tech projects with councils who might like to trial them. If that sounds good, here's how to apply for a slot ([link removed]) .


** Climate Action Plans data is useful
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Local Climate Bon Campaign logo - a green and pink ribbon with solar panels, a wind turbine and a battery on it. Like many of mySociety's services, CAPE, the Climate Action Plans Explorer, is an open data project. That means that the information it holds can be picked up and used by anyone, and we're always delighted to hear how it is put to use by organisations pushing for sustainable change.

When we chatted to the Green Finance Institute, we discovered the part that CAPE and the associated Climate Action Plan Scorecards played in their Local Climate Bonds scheme, which is enabling councils and residents to work together to fund carbon-cutting initiatives. Read more in our case study ([link removed]) .


** Be sure not to miss our climate updates
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We're doing so much around climate that it now deserves its own newsletter!

Sign up for our monthly Climate bulletin here ([link removed]) .
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mySociety news
Mr Jay: Mr Grant, your full name please? Mr Hugh Grant: Hugh John Mungo Grant.


** Farewell to SayIt
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SayIt ([link removed]) was our transcripts publishing service, and part of the Poplus project ([link removed]) , making it easy to publish elegant, searchable, linkable transcripts online. To demonstrate its features we imported the Leveson Enquiry ([link removed]) , the plays of Shalespeare ([link removed]) and 12 years of Conservative party speeches ([link removed]) and some from Labour, too ([link removed]) .

But all good things must come to an end, and it makes sense to streamline our offerings when resources are limited. Read more about our decision to discontinue hosting SayIt in Sam's blog post here ([link removed]) .
Events


** Civic tech in hostile environments:
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** How can we thrive in challenging contexts?
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** September 8
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Civic tech practitioners around the world are operating in the face of all kinds of hostile environments. Some face governmental resistance to their services; others are trying to keep websites up and running within a conflict zone. In Civic Tech Surgery #6, we'll discuss some of these challenges and how we might put solutions in place that will benefit organisations globally.

Everyone is welcome to join in this discussion: reserve your place here ([link removed]) for free.
From our networks


** Newspeak House
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The London-based civic tech hub has opened applications for the next intake of their residential programme ([link removed]) .

They say "It is designed to support mid-career technologists gain a holistic understanding of the civic landscape in the UK [...] ideal for people who have been working professionally for several years and are now looking to grow their network and spend time reflecting deeply on how they can best have impact on the world."


** Climate Emergency UK
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This small but effective charity is looking for people to join their board, and especially those with a finance or HR background.

If you are interested please take a look at their person specification ([link removed]) and then get in touch at [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) .


** What we're consuming
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* We can't believe it's been five years since those MP open source photos were released ([link removed]) .
* The Data Collective ([link removed]) was born out of an understanding that people who work with data in charities need a place to learn from each other.
* Anonymously rate how well your company is responding ([link removed]) to the climate crisis.
* We love a from-the-heart rant, especially when it's about interview techniques ([link removed]) .
* And here's a 'weird epic ramble' about the Etsy homepage ([link removed]) , from a Python developer's point of view.
* See what things people leave in books ([link removed]) at Oakland public library.
Did you know that you can subscribe to our special interest newsletters too? Get an extra monthly bulletin on Democracy & Campaigning, Freedom of Information, Better Cities & Councils, or Research. Pick and choose your mySociety newsletters here ([link removed][UNIQID]) .
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mySociety is a registered charity in England and Wales (1076346) and a limited company (03277032).
Through our trading subsidiary SocietyWorks (05798215) we also provide commercial services.
Image credits: Person on sofa: ** Samia Liamani ([link removed])
; Anish Kapoor quote ** CJ Dayrit ([link removed])
; Leaf on envelope: ** Sippakorn Yamkasikorn ([link removed])
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