So much to tell you.

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** Events, news and stuff you can use
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** September 2022
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A man in a cap and large blue headphones looks at his phone in a busy street.


** Our voices in your ear
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Sometimes it's easier to take things in verbally.

So if you fancy hearing all about our Climate and data work in the form of a nice friendly chat, plug in those earphones and go for a walk with the latest episode of the Practical Democracy podcast ([link removed]) from Delib — featuring our own Siôn and Myf.
Democracy


** The secret service
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We don't mention it much, but our site TheyWorkForYou provides one crucial service that many small organisations, campaigns and even Parliament's own staff have come to rely on. It's propping up a lot of vital activity — and it's free of charge!

Perhaps you might benefit from it, too? Discover more here ([link removed]) .
Transparency


** A million and counting
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'One million plus requests for information' - on the purple Alaveteli background

Our Alaveteli software is helping people run #FOI sites all around the world - and as a result, a lot more information is accessible to everyone.

From apricot farming in Tunisia to the makes and models of over 18,000 cars stolen in Argentina, discover some of the information that's been released across the globe ([link removed]) .


** Don't be diverted
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Some public authorities are refusing to process valid Freedom of Information requests made via email.

This practice is against the law, and as you might expect, the team at WhatDoTheyKnow have opinions ([link removed] ) .


** Better FOI requests to multiple bodies
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A green folder with a label on it saying 'categories'

A new feature on WhatDoTheyKnow Pro ([link removed]) means you can make FOI requests to several bodies of the same type at once, building up useful datasets to get a wider view across a sector.

As always, we've ensured that responsible requesting is built in, as we explain in this post ([link removed]) .
Climate
Innovations in Climate Tech - global inspiration for local climate action


** Innovations in climate tech
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** September 21
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A fascinating day of presentations on the civic tech projects that are helping fight the climate emergency. This event is online and open to all.

Plus, If you work in local government, there's also a chance to make connections — and to apply for one of three £5,000 grants to help you get a trial up and running.
Book your free place now ([link removed])

Innovations in Climate Tech is an affiliate event of the Code for All Summit ([link removed]) , which is also online and open for registration.


** School dinners and climate action plans
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Two kids dressed as superheroes and the words 'Revolutionising School Food'

All kinds of organisations and campaigns are finding CAPE, our Climate Action Plan Explorer, useful in helping them achieve their aims.

We spoke to ProVeg UK to find out how they use our data to inform conversations with councils about sustainable foods for school meals. Read all about it here ([link removed]) .


** Healthcare in the climate emergency
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A woman riding a bicycle through an almost empty park on a late sunny afternoon.

We also heard from Professor Heather Brown, who's cross-referencing climate action plan information with data on austerity measures, and interviews with healthcare staff, to get a better picture of how climate interventions might improve healthcare and wellbeing — if the right ingredients are in place.

Find our chat with Heather here ([link removed]) .


** Be sure not to miss our climate news
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We're doing so much work around climate that it now deserves its own newsletter!
Sign up for our monthly Climate newsletter here ([link removed]) .
Opportunities
TICTeC Labs logo


** Call for proposals: storytelling and reach
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The TICTeC Labs programme continues, and is now seeking solutions to help civic tech practitioners improve their storytelling and reach.

A small grant is available to fund work in one of the three suggested areas: training, an event, or the founding of a community. If you'd like to put in for it, you have until 14 September: full details here ([link removed]) .


** 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.


** What we're consuming
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* Privacy International has serious concerns over plans to track migrants ([link removed]) . This story features FOI requests made via WhatDoTheyKnow.
* We're committed to keeping our events accessible online, even when we return to in-person conventions. This guide from the world of literary festivals ([link removed]) is widely applicable, and might help you to do the same.
* Newspeak House's Ed Saperia edited this new book on how workers are organising ([link removed]) . Available via Amazon; with some proceeds going to support unionising Amazon workers 🤯
* When Scotrail released their train announcements as open data ([link removed]) , presumably they didn't expect them to end up as 'ambient beats ([link removed]) '. But as project progenitor Matt Eason ([link removed]) remarked, a spreadsheet and railway data ([link removed]) is 'catnip for nerds'.
* Will open public transport data benefit citizens? ([link removed]) Well, yes – see trance music, as above. But this piece also suggests more sensible outcomes.
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.
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