We help you understand what your community actually needs.
As an experienced service design and community technology company, we know how to build stronger and more connected communities.
In fact, our platforms often become the connection point between people who live in communities and the systems that support them. This gives us a unique understanding of what it takes to create solutions that work for both.
Rarely is the solution simply to licence software. It's to start with the need. Our platform consultation process creates a clear, evidence-based brief that gives everyone a shared direction.
We've spent 25+ years creating solutions
people actually use.
Kathryn Woolf
Service Designer & Director
Kathryn specialises in user research, stakeholder engagement and design thinking, transforming insights into ideas, prototypes and tested solutions.
Robert Woolf
Founder & CEO
Robert is a strategist and systems thinker who helps develop community-driven models that inform strategies for growth, sustainability and social impact.
We listen first
Every community is different. That's why we start by understanding what people need, what's getting in the way and how a platform could help. These insights shape everything that follows.
Our co-design principles
Design with, not for
Design alongside the people who will use it.
Test early
Test ideas early and improve them based on what you learn.
Solve the real problem
Focus on what will make the biggest difference.
Understanding what your community really needs
We combine what we hear from stakeholders with your strategic goals to inform platform requirements, and the operations that underpin it.
Working out who to talk to
We start by mapping out all the people and organisations that have a stake in the platform; from local residents and community groups to commissioners and frontline workers. We make sure we include people who are often overlooked, so the consultation reflects the full range of community needs.
Talking to people
We have in-depth conversations with stakeholders to understand what they're trying to achieve, what currently gets in the way and how a shared platform might help. This includes workshops, focus groups, one-to-one interviews and direct observation, using whichever approach works best for the people involved.
Testing the findings at scale
We use surveys and data analysis to check whether what we heard in conversations holds true more broadly. This helps us prioritise what matters most and gives you confidence that our recommendations are grounded in evidence, not just a handful of voices.
Turning insights into a clear brief
We bring stakeholders together to turn what we've learned into a practical brief for a future platform. This sets out exactly what the platform needs to do - features, user journeys, content structure, reporting and governance - creating a shared understanding of what’s needed.
A clear picture of what your community needs and a plan for what to do next
At the end of the consultation, you'll have a clear, evidence-based view of what your community needs, what your stakeholders want to achieve and what a future platform needs to do.
We'll bring together stakeholder insight, local data, user needs and our experience of community platforms to identify priorities, opportunities and practical requirements. This includes exploring how different platform approaches and functionality could meet those needs and opportunities.
We'll also look at how the platform should be managed, maintained and embedded across the wider system.
What's included
- A clear picture of community needs and priorities
- Findings from stakeholder research and engagement
- A shared vision and strategic direction for the platform
- User needs, journeys and key requirements
- An audit of your existing platform, where relevant
- Benchmarking against other platforms and approaches
- A clear, prioritised platform brief
- Options for how the platform could be delivered
- A framework for assessing potential solutions
- Recommendations for governance, content and ongoing management
- A plan for the long-term sustainability of the platform
- A practical roadmap for moving forward
Want to know more? Get in touch to make an enquiry.
The 5Ps: making community platforms work in practice
Developed by Made Open, the 5Ps is the framework that guides our consultation and ensures every recommendation is practical, achievable and built to last.
Purpose
A shared vision for the platform and the outcomes it aims to achieve, giving everyone a clear direction.
People
Connecting communities and organisations, with their needs and insights shaping the platform.
Partners
Exploring how partners can share responsibility for maintaining and improving the platform.
Processes
Using shared measures and insights to understand impact, guide decisions and improve how partners work together.
Platform
Shaping the platform around what your community already has, and what it could achieve in the future.
We know community platforms inside and out
We don't just advise on community platforms, we build and run them. Here's what that means for you:
Because we run real community platforms, we know from experience what works and what doesn't, so we ask the right questions from day one.
We're experienced at reaching residents, community groups and organisations who don't always get a seat at the table.
We won't push it on you, but if you licence our award-winning software after the consultation we'll credit a portion of the fee against your first year.
Because we focus on what you're trying to achieve, our consultation is shaped around your goals, not a generic template.
Everything we produce is written in plain English and designed to help you take the next step, whoever you choose as a platform provider.
Talk to us about your community
Thinking of licensing a Made Open platform? If you decide to licence after the consultation, a portion of the fee is credited towards your first year of licensing.
Get in touch to discuss