News, blogs & platform updates

Time4Good, a platform developed by Made Open, is about to be used in Maine (USA) to explore how communities can turn neighbourly goodwill into practical support.

We’re pleased to share the launch of Living Well RCT, the newly refreshed community platform formerly known as Connect RCT.

By: Robert Woolf

A good dashboard isn't just about impressive charts. It's about making sure the numbers are accurate, meaningful and easy to understand. Over two days, I've made a series of improvements to Made Open's social impact tracker - from neighbourhood-level data and clearer metrics to automated updates - helping turn community-platform data into genuine insight.

Talent Timebanking has been shortlisted for two national awards recognising innovation, workforce development and inclusion across health and care. The platform is a finalist at both the B.A.M.E. Health & Care Awards and HPMA Excellence in People Awards, following its Highly Commended recognition at last year’s HPMA awards.

Made Open has been appointed to G-Cloud 15, giving public sector organisations an established government procurement route to access our cloud-based community platform. The framework makes it easier for councils, health organisations and other public bodies to procure technology that supports community connection, neighbourhood health, volunteering and peer support.

By: Kathryn Woolf

The most successful community platforms are built on strong partnerships, shared ownership and effective governance that keep information accurate, trusted and useful long after launch. Using Devon Connect as an example, this blog explores why process and partnership matter more than software when it comes to creating community platforms that support neighbourhood health and stronger, more connected communities.

By: Robert Woolf

This week I’ve been writing final reports for two projects: "Build Move Thrive" in Warrington, focused on improving access to physical activity opportunities, and our community consultation in Rotherham, exploring what a future community platform could look like.

By: Claire Stevens

Many platforms face the same problem: they need a critical mass of content before they're useful to residents, but building that content through outreach can take years. As part of the Build Move Thrive project for Active Cheshire, we explored whether there was a different approach. Using AI-assisted research, we identified physical activity opportunities that were already publicly available online

We’ve introduced a new way for community platforms to bring activities and opportunities together, with richer content streams and improved search on landing pages. Piloted with Living Well Warrington, the new experience makes it easier for people to find activities that match their interests, abilities and needs - while opening the door to more personalised content hubs.

We’ve launched our tenth Community Timebank, growing a network that now supports communities across the UK, US and beyond. The milestone is a reminder of what timebanking is really about: people sharing skills, giving their time and building stronger connections - one small act of kindness at a time.

NHS Talent Timebanking has won the Dedication to a Lifelong Learning Culture Award at the Skills for Health Our Health Heroes Awards 2026. Powered by Made Open, the platform connects people across health and social care to share skills, knowledge and experience - helping unlock the expertise already within the workforce.

By: Robert Woolf

Our consultation with Voluntary Action Rotherham is revealing clear themes around the future of community information - from the importance of trusted, up-to-date information to the challenge of navigating a complex local landscape. We’re now taking these insights into workshops and co-design sessions with residents and stakeholders to shape what comes next.

By: Claire Stevens

The redesigned Connect RCT platform has received a warm welcome from volunteers, residents and community organisations at a recent Volunteering Fayre. People highlighted the simpler design, improved search and new neighbourhood features - with one long-time user who had stopped using the old site simply saying: “I love it!”

Living Well Warrington, built and supported by Made Open, has been Highly Commended at the HSJ Digital Awards 2026 for its work to reduce health inequalities. In its first year, the platform recorded more than 220,000 views and supported over 4,000 connections to local services, with strong reach into Warrington’s most deprived communities.

We’re working with Voluntary Action Rotherham to explore the future of community information and directory services across the borough. Over the coming months, we’ll be speaking with residents, voluntary organisations and local partners to understand what they need from a modern, accessible and sustainable community platform.

Made Open, Warrington Voluntary Action and Active Cheshire are working together on a Sport England-funded Learning Lab to make local physical activity opportunities easier to discover. Integrated into Living Well Warrington, the project is exploring how better information, smarter search and AI can help more people find activities that work for them.

We’ve rolled out a wide range of platform improvements this month, including AI-powered search, better filtering, improved event information, new safeguarding features and dedicated spaces for volunteer teams. We’ve also strengthened security and are pleased to have successfully passed our annual penetration test.

Page views and clicks tell you how people use a platform, but not what difference it makes. Our approach to social value reporting combines recognised frameworks with real platform data to help councils, charities and community organisations understand the wider social impact they’re creating - from volunteering and connection to access to local support.

By: Kathryn Woolf

Devon Connect is evolving from a community directory into something much bigger: digital infrastructure for prevention, wellbeing and neighbourhood health. With millions of interactions, thousands of community activities and more than £750,000 in measured social value, Devon may already have the foundations of a joined-up digital front door.

By: Claire Stevens

Launching a community platform is only the beginning. Drawing on years of experience managing and supporting platforms, this article explores what separates those that thrive from those that stall - from having a clear purpose and dedicated people to building strong local partnerships and creating enough activity to make the platform genuinely useful.

Interlink RCT has renewed its Made Open licence for another year, alongside an important new chapter for the platform. Connect RCT is becoming Living Well RCT, reflecting a stronger focus on prevention, early help and helping people find the right support in their local community.

By: Kathryn Woolf

Prevention matters, but much of the activity that supports it happens quietly across communities and is difficult for systems to see or measure. This article explores why better community infrastructure and visibility could help make prevention more tangible - connecting local activity with the wider health and care system.

By: Robert Woolf

We’re stepping up reporting at Made Open, using AI to turn more than 100 data feeds into faster, clearer and more useful insight. Monthly reporting is becoming almost immediate, with weekly, daily and eventually real-time reporting on the horizon - alongside new dashboards giving Enterprise clients greater control over their data.

By: Robert Woolf

On International Timebanking Day, we reflect on what really makes timebanking work: relationships, trust and a sense of belonging. That thinking has shaped Community Timebanks, our simple, affordable platform designed to help small communities give, ask and exchange support without technology getting in the way.

By: Phil Merrifield

We’ve introduced a range of security, usability and accessibility improvements across the Made Open platform. From Single Sign-On and stronger protection against attacks to better privacy controls and improved accessibility, these updates make our platforms safer, easier to use and more inclusive for everyone.

By: Kathryn Woolf

Local businesses, parish councillors and community stakeholders came together for the first Love Your Place challenge day in Botley, Hampshire. Working with the University of Southampton’s Future Towns Innovation Hub, participants used design thinking to explore how the village can thrive as it prepares for major changes, including the opening of a new bypass in 2027.

By: Kathryn Woolf

Strong communities aren’t built through one big campaign. They grow through small, consistent moments of connection. We’ve pulled together 10 simple ways to strengthen engagement on your Made Open platform: from welcoming new members and celebrating contributions to asking better questions and encouraging collaboration.

By: Phil Merrifield

We’ve launched a new AI-powered search experience following months of user testing with Connect Torfaen and Living Well Warrington. Semantic search understands everyday language and intent, helping people find relevant activities, groups and support even when they’re not sure what to search for.

Can Do Bristol will continue to grow through to 2030 after Bristol City Council agreed a new four-year partnership with Made Open. With more than 9,000 active volunteers, the platform is becoming an increasingly important part of Bristol’s community infrastructure, with further improvements planned to support volunteering and local organisations.

By: Robert Woolf

As demand for health and social care continues to rise, local systems need new ways to help people earlier and reduce unnecessary pressure on services. In Warrington, we’re working with partners to develop personalised pathways through Living Well Warrington, helping people find the right information and support at the right time.

Living Well Warrington has been shortlisted for two HSJ Digital Awards, recognising its work to drive prevention and reduce health inequalities through digital. Just nine months after launch, the platform is helping thousands of people find local support while giving partners a shared system for joined-up working and better outcomes.

2025 wasn’t a straightforward story of growth. Communities using Made Open faced challenges, adapted their approaches and, in many cases, found new momentum. From Living Well Warrington’s rapid launch to Devon Connect and Wiltshire Together’s continued progress, the year showed us what it takes to build platforms that genuinely support communities.

By: Robert Woolf

2026 is set to be a big year for Made Open. We’re investing in smarter search, guided conversations and AI-powered reporting, while expanding our Enterprise model and making timebanking and micro-volunteering more accessible to grassroots communities. It’s all part of our mission to build better digital infrastructure for stronger, more connected communities.