The Civic Innovation Hub is a place where every Hackney citizen can have their say on how to address the biggest social and environmental challenges in their neighbourhood - both identifying challenges and driving solutions.
It is based on the premise that those who experience social issues, those who have a deep understanding of a place and their community from living in it, have the skills and knowledge to create better, more relevant and effective services and changes in their own communities.
It is a place where communities come together with people who seek to address it (e.g. the council or community groups) or those that should (e.g. business) to define local challenges, develop solutions, and drive or influence change directly.
It is a community centre and a co-working space which will be owned by the community and proactively shaped by them. It is a place that will link people and organisations, facilitate conversation and collaboration, and enable local people to have a voice in the way the borough develops.
A MANAGED FUND
A new way to do participatory grant-making: local Hackney organisation Shoreditch Trust and TSIP have developed tried and tested packages where communities choose their local priorities, research, co-design relevant and inclusive services and see their ideas realised. The managed fund supports projects co-produced with communities you want to benefit and capable local charities.
Design challenges
The core part of the hub is our design challenge model. These challenges are identified from listening to what matters to local residents. This includes reflecting on ‘unconferences’, reviewing Mayoral priorities, recent local publications, and conversations with residents and local organisations. These challenges are led by people with relevant experience of social issues, bring in organisations with the potential to drive change, and result in community-owned solutions to local challenges.
A SPACE FOR ALL
A key element of the Hub is a physical space that people could visit, join projects, hear about new ways of working and delivering, partner together around a particular challenge or solution, or contribute to learning. This space also brings organisations (or local representatives from those organisations) in, who share the values of collaboration and participation, maintain a citizen-led mentality, and are open to rethinking their work through co-design.