Task 6.6 saw the construction and operalisation of the Community Champion Network (CCN), beginning in Month 9 and running until the end of the project. The CCN is a network of organisations, initiatives, and social groups in each of the Case Study regions, managed by the Institute for Urban Excellence. The goal of the CCN was to strengthen the societal impact of DUST by utilising the content and capacities in the project for the benefit of different stakeholders in the Case Study regions. It also provided a regional channel for the dissemination of project results and outcomes.

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The CCN was constructed using a case-by-case approach, with societal and academic partners identifying an initial set of Community Champions in each Case Study region based on existing contacts. This approach supported reflection on CCN activities and the identification of additional stakeholders. By the end of DUST’s second year, a complete set of Community Champions had been defined and engaged in Poland, Bulgaria, Sweden, and the Netherlands.

The CCN included a range of Community Champions to ensure representation of different Least Engaged Communities (LECs) across the Case Study regions. Representation was continuously assessed by comparing Community Champions against expanded regional LEC lists developed in collaboration with other work packages. LECs were classified as represented, partly represented, or not represented, and prioritised using the able/unable and willing/unwilling participation framework. This informed the identification of additional stakeholders and the design of CCN activities.

This deliverable documents the establishment, composition, and operation of the Community Champion Network (CCN) within the DUST project. It outlines the construction of the CCN, the identification and engagement of Community Champions, and the activities implemented to support knowledge exchange, capacity building, and dissemination of project outcomes. It also includes annexes detailing LEC representation and observations from CCN workshops.