534,877 active users.
7,752 activities added or renewed.
6,795 new members.
6,553 timebanking hours completed.
1,415 people pledged to volunteer.
If you looked only at these headline numbers, you might think 2025 was a straightforward year of growth for communities using Made Open platforms.
It wasn’t.
It was messier than that. Some communities struggled to find their footing. Others encountered unexpected barriers. A few found their rhythm and built steady momentum across the year.
Looking back, 2025 reads less like a smooth success story and more like a journey. Many communities began the year with a sense that momentum was building, but along the way a number of common challenges began to surface.
Across several platforms, teams were navigating:
- Frequent turnover of platform administrators
- Inconsistent approaches to onboarding new members
- Different interpretations of moderation and quality control
- Feedback often shaped by the loudest (and sometimes most negative) voices
For some teams, this was discouraging. For others, it became an opportunity to pause, reflect and rethink their approach.
"Devon Connect is the one-stop information shop but with a human touch. 2025 has been a fantastic journey, and we’ve been supported brilliantly by Made Open."
Marie Gould
Chief Officer of NDVS and Chair of Devon Connect
Communities that chose to adapt
Several communities responded by reshaping how they approached their platforms.
Connect Torfaen
The team at Connect Torfaen simplified their platform’s purpose, reframing it clearly as a community directory for Torfaen. They also:
- Upskilled existing staff to take on the platform administrator role, investing in training to strengthen quality and consistency
- Focused on engaging organisations who signpost residents to support services
- Developed “platform champions” who promote the directory through word of mouth
Connect RCT
Connect RCT began redesigning how their platform communicates its purpose, placing a stronger focus on preventative health and living well in Rhondda Cynon Taf.
Internally, they also invested time in strengthening staff confidence and skills with the platform so that the whole team could champion it effectively.
Devon Connect
Devon Connect experienced an internal shift in platform ownership during the year. Rather than disrupting progress, the change created an opportunity to reset and bring new people into the platform’s development.
At the same time, the platform secured a new partnership, helping to strengthen its long-term sustainability.
The platforms that found their moment
While some teams were recalibrating, others hit a stride:
Living Well Warrington
At the start of the year, Living Well Warrington had not yet launched. By March, the platform went live with a strong focus on preventative health and wellbeing, supported by extensive partner engagement and co-design.
In their first 3 months, they had:
9,814 active users
571 live activities
332 new members
Their success was driven by a clear and shared purpose: tackling health inequalities through collaboration. This clarity sparked reflection across other communities about how effectively their own platforms communicated their value.
By the end of the year, Living Well Warrington had received national recognition:
- Highly commended in the Integrated Care Initiative Award at the HSJ Awards 2025
- Shortlisted for two HSJ Digital Awards 2026
Wiltshire Together
Wiltshire Together entered 2025 from a position of steady growth. Rather than chasing rapid expansion, the team focused on building trust and quality engagement.
Their approach centred on:
- Hosting regular drop-in Q&A sessions
- Supporting organisations consistently rather than relying on campaigns
- Allowing word-of-mouth advocacy to build credibility
The results were gradual but powerful:
- A 77% increase in users adding or renewing activities
- Monthly active users rising from 5,000 to 7,000
- Previously sceptical organisations becoming active contributors after hands-on training
Their story is a reminder that impact isn’t always loud. Often, it is built through small, repeated wins.
Quiet improvements behind the scenes
While communities were learning and adapting, Made Open’s platform also continued to evolve. Some of the most impactful improvements were subtle — but meaningful.
A new activity type for community and voluntary sector job vacancies was introduced after several communities highlighted that they were manually sharing these opportunities. By the end of the year, 103 roles had been promoted through the platforms.
We also introduced a simple feedback form at the bottom of activity listings and search results. For the first time, users could leave quick positive or negative feedback along with comments.
This has provided valuable insights into gaps in local information, helping platform administrators identify and invite new organisations to join. Security and privacy were also strengthened.
New features included the ability for users to choose who can message them, alongside improved privacy controls. For timebanking communities, we also introduced a new “thank you” loop, allowing participants to share feedback after an exchange of time credits - helping celebrate positive experiences and strengthen trust between members.
Looking back - and ahead
2025 wasn’t defined by smooth progress.
It was defined by responsiveness.
Platform teams learned more about what genuinely supports participation in an online community — and what doesn’t. Some communities are ending the year stronger than they began. Others are entering the next phase of their work with clearer purpose and direction.
One question is now becoming central to many conversations: How do we know our platform is helping people?
- We can see the activity.
- We hear the stories.
- We believe these platforms are making a difference
But understanding — and demonstrating — that impact is the next challenge.
Behind every click, listing, and connection lies a potential outcome: someone feeling healthier, less isolated, more informed or better supported.
What does 2026 hold?
We can’t predict everything the year will bring.
But one priority is clear: understanding and measuring the social value of our platforms.
If 2025 was the year we learned how to adapt, 2026 will be the year we learn how to evidence impact.
Early signs are already encouraging.
So far in 2026, communities using Made Open platforms have already seen:
- 1,621 new activities added
- 1,348 new members
- 110,302 unique users browsing the platforms
Most importantly, those interactions have already resulted in:
- 3,712 contacts with local support services
- 533 volunteer pledges
Small digital connections — translating into real-world impact.