Showcasing open-source technology at Hounslow Councils’ digital festival

Throughout November, Hounslow Council are hosting a Digital Festival to showcase how the council is working with residents and businesses to learn new skills and invest technology to transform the way they design and deliver services. As part of the digital festival, the team at Connected Places have been invited to join and in partnership with Hounslow’s Community Solutions team, host a number of events around the online platform Hounslow Connect.

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‍Hounslow Connect is an online information, advice and guidance hub which links residents in Hounslow quickly and easily to the local support that they need. It brings together all of the services that are provided by Hounslow Council, voluntary and community groups and health partners onto a single platform, so residents can easily find what is right for them, when and where they need it.

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Hounslow Connect is for everyone to use and aims to make sure that this is where Hounslow residents can find the services they need, helping our communities to remain happy, healthy and connected. It is built upon Connected Places, an open source co-designed directory of services that helps local authorities connect residents to services, information and their local communities. It is the platform that underpins Hounslow Connect, Connected Kingston and Sutton Information Hub.

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We will be co-hosting three events for the digital festival this year, details of which as follows:

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What is Hounslow Connect and how is it benefiting our residents?

Summary: A digital “Show & Tell” event on Microsoft Teams
Date/Time: Wednesday 16th November – 3-4pm
Description: An opportunity for Hounslow Council staff and residents to hear about the project teams’ journey building Hounslow Connect and using the Connected Places platform; how co-design was an integral part and what’s next for the platform.

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Hounslow Connect - Drop in

Summary: An in-person event at Hounslow House to gather feedback and ideas
Date/Time: Wednesday 23rd November 11-1pm
Description: Come meet the Hounslow Connect and Connected Places teams at Hounslow House who will be on-hand to give quickfire demonstrations, gathering feedback and views for future developments…and there may also be some tasty snacks on offer too!

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Connected Places – Community meet-up

Summary: In-person event at Hounslow House
Date/Time: Wednesday 23rd November 2-4pm
Description: Hosted by the team from Connected Places, this meet-up is an opportunity for the project teams at Hounslow, Kingston and Sutton, as well other Local Authorities in the area who are interested in utilising the platform, to come together for the first time to form a community around the platform. There will be show and tells as well as facilitated discussions on the future of the platform.

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