Scheme aims to help public take advantage of open data

A new government initiative will give advice to UK citizens on how to access and use public data in an effort to drive forward the coalition's transparency and Big Society agendas.

Dubbed "Making a Difference With Data", the scheme is being spearheaded by the Department for Communities and Local Government (CLG) and Improvement and Efficiency West Midlands (IEWM), which together with advisory body the Local Public Data Panel have created a web site providing information on data sharing.

The web site will provide case studies demonstrating how local information and data is being used to make a difference in the following areas: health and social care; local government; housing; roads and transport; policing and criminal justice; and education.

The scheme, which is being managed by Vicky Sargent of integrated communications specialist Boilerhouse, could play a key role in the government's Big Society campaign.

"People who are familiar with statistics can access raw data from the London Data Store or Datagov.co.uk but it can be complicated," said Sargent. "This site will bring some of the work that is going on in this area to the surface and will help people looking to access local data to set up local projects.

"For example, a group looking to set up a local swimming pool can access data on accidents in pools to help it manage a health and safety policy."

Making a Difference With Data will also invite elected members of local councils, health and police services, citizen activists, bloggers, as well as members of the public engaged in local campaigning, to contribute material to the web site through self-service upload facilities.

In addition, it will collect feedback from local activists about the sort of data and information they would like to get hold of from public authorities, but find hard to access.

The groups responsible for the initiative will host an event in London on 18 March for policy makers and others working on local open data and transparency.

Findings from a range of projects will be presented and policy practitioners will hear more about challenges and issues around the transparency agenda.