Sherelle Fairweather - Digital Strategy Lead, Manchester City Council
Cities Coalition for Digital Rights 2025
We are here!
What are the technologies
we want?
What is the society
we want?
Manchester Digital Strategy: Doing Digital Together
#DoingDigitalTogether to protect and promote digital rights!
Digital Inclusion.
32
Digital Champion volunteers trained and working in the community
2019
subscribers to our communications
325
members of our Digital Inclusion Working Group
low-cost devices provided in partnership with Community Computers
200
32 community databanks added to all 22 Manchester Library databanks giving out free SIMs
1948
Sims donated to digitally excluded residents through libraries, our team and the care leavers scheme
333
laptops donated via social value from XMA
56
community organisations helped to become digital hubs
395
laptops provided to community groups
2024 highlights
100 MiFi units and 28 Jangala boxes donated to help people with connectivity at home.
"For the people that don't have internet at home this has been a lifesaver."
"I feel like a part of society"
"I needed mobile internet to stay connected with family that stay in Ukraine"
"It makes me feel like everyone else, socialising and shopping."
"This sim has helped me search for resources for my children with autism."
Nurturing and advocating for tech for good.
International Digital Rights Day (Dec 2025)
Digital data & health.
Foundations:
Systems Optimisation:
Our Future:
3 step
approach
Manchester Adult Social Care’s strategic approach to digital.
Achieving Better Outcomes Together
Participation and democracy.
So, What About AI?
misuse -
questionable design -
unintended negative consequences -
use cases
are vast
potential to benefit lives
Systems are used for
purposes other than those for which they were designed and intended
Creators have not thoroughly considered technical issues related to algorithmic bias and safety risks
Creators have
not thoroughly considered the potential negative impacts their systems may have on the individuals and communities they affect
potential to improve quality
of services
AI IS TERRIFYING
AI IS INCREDIBLE!
Empower people to shape and inform service design and delivery. Mitigating bias and promoting socially conscious innovation.
the goal:
Manchester’s Peoples Panel for AI.
Phase 3:
People’s Panels
Phase 1:
Community
Roadshows
Phase 2:
Training
Phase 4:
Action!
31%
34%
36%
40%
People’s Panel for AI
41
awareness of how AI is used
Residents Engaged
understanding of AI
Average Increase In:
awareness that automated
decisions can be challenged
in everyday life
trust in AI systems
5
Community Roadshows
Cheetham Hill
Moston
Harpurhey
Newton Heath
8.3
average
enjoyment
score
Age:
Gender:
Ethnicity:
Asian or Asian British, 31%
Black, African Carribean, or Black British, 11%
Mixed or Multiple Ethnic Groups, 5%
White, 42%
Other Ethnic Group 8%
Prefer Not To Say 3%
Key Learnings
Partnership Working: Collaboration with academia (MMU), community organisations, and service providers (TfGM, Tech Enabled Care, Citizens Advice) ensured effective outreach and relevant informed training.
Data-driven Approach: Using the Digital Exclusion Risk Index (DERI) helped to target outreach efforts towards communities and groups most in need.
Trust-building: Promoting roadshows in trusted community spaces, compensating panellists fairly, and addressing initial scepticism was key to the successful delivery of the roadshow events.
Accessibility: Overcoming barriers like physical access, language, location, and finances through free transportation, translation services, and accessible venues was vital to engage traditionally marginalised groups.
www.manchesterdigitalstrategy.com