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Contemporary societies are experiencing dynamic changes that require social resilience. Among the challenges facing European and global communities are terrorism, the COVID-19 pandemic, migration crises, the rising cost of living, the war in Ukraine and climate change.

Emerging crises unexpectedly require rapid mobilisation and adaptation of the population to the new situation, and sometimes even an immediate, adequate response. Understood holistically, social problems are extremely complex and result from the inability to meet basic needs. The solution to a problem must be sought at its source.

The phenomenon of social innovation stems from a deep analysis of the needs of groups of people and the relationships between them. The process of creating innovation does not result from finding and applying a solution that already exists, but aims to increase social awareness and find new opportunities. An example of a methodology to create innovative products, services or systems that respond to human needs is 'design thinking', which requires a deep understanding of social expectations.

One concept that builds community resilience is the so-called 'sharing economy'. This philosophy, which is gaining increasing popularity, identifies solutions to reduce, for example, the negative effects of climate change or rising living costs. This can be achieved through sharing and co-ownership programmes. The idea of a sharing economy is implemented, for example, by anglers who jointly buy a single fishing boat to take turns using it, or by allotment holders who get together as a group and buy a soil tiller, which then circulates between them, digging up the soil on the allotment of each person who contributed to the purchase of the machine.

Implemented in Barcelona, Spain, the Vila Veina project is an urban initiative based on sharing social and health resources and using them in a care programme for those in need. It is a solution aimed at all those in need of assistance in their daily lives, and ultimately includes both children aged 0-2, people over 75, people living alone and those with an average income of less than €7,500 per year.

Public awareness is an important aspect of this kind of innovation. Barcelona, digitalising access to public services, has provided an online social subsidy simulator. As part of the creation of a new 'smart' society model, it has introduced a number of projects oriented towards tackling digital exclusion. Barcelona received a Bloomberg award for introducing the Vincles programme, connecting older people through technology.

The ageing of European societies has given rise to the need for new initiatives to counteract the exclusion of older people, support their activation and improve their quality of life. In Poznań, such activities, which bring together various initiatives, are coordinated by the Centre for Senior Initiatives, established by a resolution of the Poznań City Council on the initiative of the City Council of Senior Citizens.

The mission of the CIS is to change stereotypes about old age and the perception of this stage of life. One of the projects implemented by the Centre was the Festival of Intergenerational Solidarity, which addressed the "conflict between generations" by preparing artistic performances with the participation of people from different age groups - from the youngest to the oldest. The Centre for Senior Initiatives helps older people to become volunteers in various initiatives and provides information about services for seniors at the 60+ Information Point. It offers information on current events, places offering support for seniors and attractive leisure activities.

Updates on events coordinated by the CIS are published on the Smart City Poznań app, which is very popular among seniors. On offer to seniors are, among other things, basic and refresher courses in the use of mobile applications and information technology. This makes seniors more adaptable to changes in their lives.

In Poznań, resource-sharing projects build social resilience that is also important in a migrant crisis caused by war. These initiatives offer assistance on a different basis than that available in social welfare centres, thus filling an organisational gap. 

One such initiative, which facilitates urgent needs, is the Po-dzielnia, operating in the city centre at 27 Głogowska St. It offers clothes, shoes and everyday items that can be obtained for free or exchanged. Poznań residents bring items they do not need to the Po-dzielnia, give them away free of charge and a day or a few days later they are given a second life by people who need them. 

The Jadłodzielnia Wildecka (food depot) operates on a similar basis, where you can get food products for free or leave food for those in need. There are also several Giveboxes in Poznań, public cupboards set up in the streets, where people can leave items for those in need 24 hours a day, e.g. clothes, building materials, kitchen utensils, sports equipment, toys, etc. This is one of the simplest solutions to help people in need. This is one of the simplest solutions of the 'sharing economy'.

AP WMP