Webinar: Unlocking Community Potential with the INCLUDE Project

An engaging and practice-oriented webinar organised under the INCLUDE project, an EU-funded initiative under the Interreg Northern Periphery and Arctic Programme, which builds collaboration, co-creation and knowledge exchange to strengthen local capacity and engagement by bringing together partners across Europe. There will also be time allocated for discussion and a Q&A session.

Date: Wednesday, 10 June
Time: 10:00am (IST) / 11:00am (CEST)
Duration: 60 minutes

Registration Link: https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/910bf25a-bc9e-40b0-8591-ec65f4366397@b47fa4cd-af2f-4aa9-b39d-ac06e2ccdf65

Webinar Highlights

1. eNuokkari – A Digital Youth Centre (Finland)

Speaker: Kalle Sievänen, Savonia University of Applied Sciences

An innovative digital youth centre hosted on Discord, developed to support young people in rural Eastern Finland where access to services can be limited due to long distances.

Key features include:

• A safe and accessible online space for young people

• Opportunities to interact with youth workers and peers

• Promotion of social inclusion, participation and community building

This practice demonstrates how familiar digital platforms can be adapted into structured and supportive environments for youth work.

2. Härnösand is Growing – Inclusive Urban Planning (Sweden)

Speaker: Patrik Pettersson, Härnösand Municipality

This initiative combines physical and digital tools to make urban planning more transparent, understandable and participatory.

The approach includes:

• A dedicated public space in the local library to showcase development plans

• Interactive 3D visualisations and maps

• Opportunities for citizens to explore projects and contribute feedback

The initiative has strengthened community dialogue and trust between residents and the municipality, providing a strong example of inclusive urban governance.

3. GIS Crowdsourcing for Local Knowledge and Heritage (Ireland)

This practice uses GIS technology to preserve local heritage and support community-led knowledge sharing.

The initiative enables:

• Residents to contribute place names, stories and local landscape knowledge through an online mapping platform

• Broad participation through accessible tools and local workshops

• The preservation of valuable cultural heritage through community co-creation

This example highlights the role digital tools can play in supporting civic engagement and creating lasting public value.

Why Attend?

• Learn from tested and transferable practices across Europe

• Discover innovative digital and participatory approaches

• Gain insights into inclusive and resilient territorial development

• Connect with peers working in community engagement and governance