On September 30th, the room at DiSH Manchester was buzzing. There is a very specific kind of energy that’s generated when you bring together passionate charity leaders, civic champions, and digital innovators—a mix of grounded realism about the challenges VCSE organisations face and pure excitement about what we can solve together.
In partnership with Manchester City Council, we officially launched the Manchester Tech for Good Catalyst—a new initiative designed to bridge the gap between Manchester’s thriving tech sector and the voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations doing critical work.
The need for tech for good in Manchester
Manchester’s digital economy is booming, but local charities and community groups are often running on empty. VCSE organisations face enormous hurdles around time, digital capacity, AI adoption, and—of course—funding. Many dedicated teams are simply too stretched to step back and fix the technical friction points holding them back.
That is where the Catalyst comes in.
Instead of asking charities to navigate digital transformation alone, the Catalyst provides a mechanism to bring both sectors together, formulating clear project scopes, supporting the delivery process and ensuring the long term viability of the solutions delivered.. It gives digital pros a chance to apply their skills in a high-impact environment, while empowering local charities with practical, long-lasting digital solutions.
A morning of powerful insights
The morning was packed with inspiring discussions from speakers across the ecosystem:
Alistair Forbes (Tech for Good Alliance) introduced the Catalyst model and set the vision for ensuring digital innovation is shared equitably across Manchester.
Emma Grant (Manchester Digital) spoke about the mutual value created when tech professionals donate their expertise—fueling personal growth and development alongside social good.
Matt Robinson (techUK) challenged us all to reflect on our collective responsibility as tech leaders to ensure digital tools serve wider society.
Kirsty McIntosh, Caroline Pretty, Justyna Ivan-Lisiecka, and Nick Morgan shared real-world stories demonstrating how cross-sector collaboration expands charity reach and changes lives.
Tom Stannard (Chief Executive of Manchester City Council) closed the morning with a strong message of support, reaffirming the council’s commitment to ethical innovation and offering support to the Catalyst.
We’re already getting started
The enthusiasm in the room wasn't just talk. We are thrilled to share that the Catalyst has already received several project requests from a local organisation ready to level up its digital capabilities!
This is just the beginning. Manchester has always been a city defined by innovation, community, and doing things differently. By harnessing collective tech expertise for social good, we can build a stronger, more inclusive digital future for the city.
Stay tuned—we’ll be sharing more updates on our first projects very soon!
Want to get involved? Whether you’re a local charity looking for digital support or a business ready to share your tech talent, head over to the Manchester Tech for Good Catalyst portal to take action.
