About Nesta

Nesta is an innovation foundation. For us, innovation means turning bold ideas into reality and changing lives for the better. We use our expertise, skills and funding in areas where there are big challenges facing society.

Illustration of people using blackboard

We've all been forced to adapt to different ways of working, socialising and caring for ourselves and others. Limited to the four corners of our homes, technology has become more important than ever before in facilitating social connections, entertainment and learning opportunities.

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There are a wealth of resources available to help you through this crisis. Our toolbox surfaces some of the best and brightest ideas to keep you connected and clued up during this time. This is an evolving resource and we welcome suggestions for additions within the existing sections or for new ones at [email protected].

Nextdoor is a neighbourhood social networking app. It has recently added new features to give people a way to better support one another during the coronavirus outbreak.

All Our Ideas is a digital democracy tool that allows groups to collect and prioritize information in an open, democratic and efficient process.

The Chatty Cafe Scheme reduces loneliness and gets people talking by encouraging venues to designate a Chatter & Natter table. During the lockdown, they are holding virtual cafes and invite anyone to join.

InCommon are offering ways for families to connect virtually with older relatives during the COVID-19 lockdown. InCommon Buddies help old and young connect through a range of resources.

Homes are now not only offices but classrooms too. There are a number of resources that are available to help with teaching at home. E-learning from Skills Builder, a Nesta grantee, supports parents and carers who need to build children's skills while schools are closed.

Nesta grantee Mangahigh are offering full access to Maths distance learning resources to help students while schools are closed.

The James Dyson Foundation has launched a range of DIY projects to help children build innovative skills while they are home.

Nesta grantee SENECA helps students learn in the funnest way possible at KS2, KS3, GCSE and A Level.

Discover a range of courses on how to leverage collective action in an emergency. The collective crisis intelligence courses from GovLab include a Nesta module on crowdfunding.

Keeping informed is crucial during this crisis but so is accessing accurate information. Full Fact debunk COVID misinformation that has gone viral online.

YouGov have produced a tracker that maps the impact of COVID-19 on everything from brands to politics.

Friend of FutureFest and Professor of Behavioural Science, Paul Dolon has set up daily evidence-based tips to help you ‘be happy’ during lockdown.

The Coronavirus Tech Handbook provides technologists, civic organisations, public and private institutions, researchers and specialists of all kinds with resources to collaborate in response to the COVID-19 outbreak. Nesta will be supporting the Coronavirus Tech Handbook as it facilitates community response to COVID-19 on a global scale.

The Social Change Agency is helping volunteers in mutual aid and community groups receive donations and pay expenses through an online platform.

Nesta’s OpenUp Challenge finalist Tully are offering a Relief and Wellness Network to help people get quick financial support during COVID-19.

An open and inclusive list of solutions from around the world that people and organisations can use to stay active at home.

Crowdfunder is making it 100% free for community and charity crowdfunding projects to raise funds during the COVID-19 crisis.

Can You Save the World? is an online game aimed at helping children understand the importance of social distancing. Designed by psychologist Richard Wiseman, players must stay away from the infectious radius of others while outside and can gain extra points by collecting masks.