Evolution of the Federation
In January 2018, Omidyar Network/Luminate awarded the Co-op Foundation a grant towards a programme of support for organisations and groups working on digital and civic innovation for charitable purposes.
The partnership supported charities, community groups and early-stage social enterprises that were using technology to improve lives, reduce inequality and increase civic participation. The support included access to facilities at The Federation — a co-working space in Manchester (UK) for social innovators whose plans showed potential for sustainable impact.
Through a series of public events, the partnership also engaged with broader questions about the role of technology in society — both its potential to transform lives for the better, and the ethical, social and economic challenges it presents. You can find out about the topics being investigated through writings of previous contributors to The Federation.
The programme ran until December 2020. You can read more about the impact in the Co-op Foundation’s Federation Learning Report.
In 2021, Luminate awarded Co-op Foundation a second grant, built on the success and learning from the first phase of the programme. For this phase, the Co-op Foundation has partnered with two Greater Manchester based delivery partners, systems change and social impact agency Noisy Cricket, and open tech and digital experts Paper Frogs.
The Federation programme is no longer housed in a co-working space but it continues to be a collaboration with partners from social enterprises and charities across Greater Manchester.
They all focus on upholding data and digital rights and reducing inequality. The programme provides capacity and community building support for partners and continues to sustain and grow the Responsible Tech Collective, which emerged from the Federation community.
Together, we continue to work towards a more inclusive and responsible tech and digital ecosystem.
