Making Waves: Digital democracy powered by communities
New Local is working with Demos to develop the Waves programme.
Led by Demos, Waves is testing a new AI-powered technology and process intended to make it easier, cheaper and quicker for local governments to bring people together to have their say, discuss difficult issues, and build consensus around local decisions.
We are trialling Waves with Camden Council and South Staffordshire District Council. The participating councils have formed a Community of Practice to put collective learning at the heart of the programme. Additional partners include technology innovators CASM Technology and digital democracy platforms PSi and Remesh.
How to get involved:
We have launched the Waves Learning Network that is open to a wider range of councils. These councils are learning about Waves to inform the shape of the programme and consider whether and how they might implement Waves in their communities in 2026 and beyond. The Learning Network runs between July 2025 and September 2026, with four innovation-exchange events planned.
If you are from a council and would like to join us, please sign up here. We would love to work with you.
This programme is particularly timely, says Jessica Studdert, Chief Executive at New Local, as it offers a tangible route to bring communities closer to decisions that affect their lives:
Councils know there is a huge appetite amongst people to participate in decision-making, especially around local issues that really matter to their daily lives. The prospect of developing AI tools that move beyond a simple yes/no answer to enable meaningful engagement with the issues and trade-offs at stake can improve our democratic wellbeing.
Jessica Studdert, Chief Executive, New Local
It is at the local level, where people connect with each other and with civic institutions, that there is real promise to rebuild trust and empathy, supported by tech for the public good.
Insights from the project so far
This blog is the first in a series where we’ll share what we’ve discovered, how our thinking has evolved and what we’re finding challenging as we ride the Waves.
Exclusively available for members of the Waves Learning Network, this piece provides key insights from the first of four network sessions.
At this session we explored on-the-ground realities facing councils as they engage with their communities and discussed the challenges and opportunities that emerge when we embed technology within participation.
If you have any insights or evidence to share on the above, please get in touch.
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