Building a Stronger Data Future Together: Reflections from the Liverpool City Region Data Community Launch
On 6 May, we were proud to launch the Liverpool City Region Data Community of Practice, bringing together data professionals from across public services, VCSE organisations, and the wider data ecosystem to shape a collaborative space for shared learning, innovation, and action.
As the Civic Data Cooperative, our mission is to empower communities and organisations to use data ethically and effectively for public good. This event was a powerful step toward that goal—validating early research, surfacing new insights, and co-designing a community that reflects the region’s unique strengths and challenges.
What We Heard from the Community
Participants echoed what we’ve heard in our ongoing engagement: data teams across sectors are often small and stretched. Budget constraints and limited capacity mean many are focused on “just getting the job done,” leaving little room for innovation. This reinforces the need for a community that supports practical knowledge sharing and peer learning.
The event confirmed several recurring themes:
- Data quality and standardisation remain persistent issues, with interest in developing a “Liverpool way” to align practices.
- Information governance continues to be a barrier to data sharing, with calls for case studies that challenge restrictive norms.
- Disconnected systems create inefficiencies—some organisations are juggling dozens of platforms that don’t communicate.
- Resource limitations hinder experimentation and growth.
A key insight was the need for greater leadership engagement. While this community is practitioner-led, participants noted that without leadership buy-in, data work often lacks visibility and support. Occasional involvement from senior leaders—whether through presentations or attendance—could help champion data’s value across organisations.
Designing a Community That Works
The community voiced clear preferences for how it should operate:
- A blend of regular online sessions and quarterly in-person gatherings
- Rotating venues to improve accessibility across the region
- A focus on practical, applicable content
- Providing food and refreshments to support informal networking
We also heard that timing matters. While professionals prefer daytime sessions, community groups may be more available in the evenings. Embracing this diversity can help make the community more inclusive and representative.
While the launch was a strong start, we know there are still voices to bring in—particularly from underrepresented sectors and senior leadership. We’re committed to broadening participation as the community grows.
Join us
If you work with data in the Liverpool City Region—whether in health, housing, community services, or beyond—we invite you to be part of this growing community. Together, we can build a more connected, capable, and collaborative data ecosystem.
This work is being delivered by Open Data Manchester in partnership with the Civic Data Cooperative at the University of Liverpool.
Read our partner blog posts to read more about the LCR data community practice and sign up for a series of upcoming sessions.