Citisense

🔍 Learning from practice!

During today’s CITISENSE Testing Actions Workshop, partners shared experiences, results, challenges and lessons learned from local testing activities.

The discussion was enriched by valuable feedback and insights from the Ad-hoc Experts, helping partners reflect on outcomes and explore how Testing Action results can feed into future city plans and implementation pathways.

URBACT Pietro L. V***a, Urban Research & Local Development Strategies

Testing, learning and co-creating in Manresa, Spain 🚀

The 5th URBACT Local Group meeting focused on moving from planning to action, as the CITISENSE network enters a key phase of pilot testing and Investment Plan development.

Local stakeholders reviewed the ongoing testing actions, including the WardUs security app 📲 and the tactical public space intervention at Arc d’en Botí, exploring how digital tools, data, lighting, cleaning and small-scale urban improvements can help reduce the perception of insecurity.

The meeting also used the URBACT OPERA co-creation tool 🧩 to structure discussion, build consensus and prioritise the next steps for Manresa’s Investment Plan. Participants reflected individually, worked in pairs, shared proposals and aligned around key priorities such as citizen participation, strategic public space interventions and stronger local alliances. 🤝

These testing actions and participatory methods are helping turn the CITISENSE transfer process into concrete, locally adapted solutions for safer, more inclusive and more vibrant urban spaces. 🌍✨

URBACT Pietro L. V***a, Urban Research & Local Development Strategies Ajuntament de Manresa Valentí Moll

Liepāja 🇱🇻 is advancing concrete testing actions for youth safety!

During the 5th URBACT Local Group (ULG) meeting, local stakeholders continued finalizing testing actions to improve youth safety, focusing on three solutions:

🔸Free access to sports equipment
🔸Safer and more supportive youth
🔸Summer work opportunities for young people

The group also agreed the next practical steps — youth surveys and focus discussions with passive and at-risk youth, alongside a local communication campaign keeping participation at the center of progress.

URBACT Pietro L. V***a, Urban Research & Local Development Strategies Kaspars Varpins Elva Lubane Liepājas pašvaldības policija YOUPluss

Safer cities begin with stronger social ties 🤝

On 9 March, the City of Geel 🇧🇪 brought together more than 35 stakeholders for an extended URBACT Local Group meeting, launching the first testing actions under CITISENSE’s social pillar.

From city services, police, Thomas More college, schools, student counselling, outreach organizations and House of the Child, a broad group of local actors came together around one shared goal: strengthening Geel’s social approach for the future.

With insights from the Flemish Peace Institute, the conversation focused on conflict, polarization, radicalization and their link to feelings of insecurity in the urban context.

As was powerfully stated during the exchange:
🗣️ “We are living in a period of profound transition, which is always accompanied by turbulence, discontent and uncertainty. This should not be underestimated as a factor contributing to feelings of insecurity.”

🎯The outcome was not only a meaningful exchange, but also a concrete step forward: bystander training will soon begin for city employees, followed by external organizations.

URBACT Stad Geel Marlon Pareijn Rob Testelmans Vlaams Vredesinstituut Pietro L. V***a, Urban Research & Local Development Strategies