No, i’ve not dropped of the planet, for from it, in fact in seems in the last few week as though there isn’t a part of England i’ve not visited !
Anyway, today is Monday so it must be Brentford … yes Brentford !
I’m at the delightful Watermans Arts centre for the DC10plus IT in the Community series of workshops (don’t like to use that word conference!).
What feels different about this event (as well as the fact that its right by the Thames AND its sunny!) is the number of people who are community focussed rather than IT focussed.
Although i’ve seen it a number of times, Jane Robbins shared her teams’s video which I’d recommend you take 8 minutes and 21 seconds out of your busy day to watch. The “Think about it” video produced by the Digital Inclusion team is fast paced and with a catchy tune, but really brings home the message that an increase in digital technology use can really reduce social exclusion. (I pick up something new from it everytime I watch it).
There are number of interesting developments all aimed at giving people in communities more of a sense of inclusion and giving them more of a voice with the decision makers, their local authority and the wider third sector. What is good news is that there is investment from funders and central government in these being through use of social media (blogs, video, podcasts and similar tools).
Don’t worry if all this is sounding daunting.
If you want to be involved look at the Digital Mentors initiative, you will hear a lot more from the successful organisations soon – well if you don’t – whoever wins the work won’t be doing their job well !
If you have an idea about third sector community empowerment then the £7.5 million Empowerment Fund may be of interest to you.
Now is the time to test if the brave promises made in “Communities in Control” mean anything to real grass roots communities.
Think about it !
PS – see you later in the week in Sunderland !
Filed under: Infrastructure, dc10plus, digital inclusion, nptech, nptechuk, social media | Tagged: dc10plus, digital inclusion, digital mentor, digital mentors
Thank you for leaving London! I’m getting a little cheesed off being told I show go to London for all digital inclusion events. There is life in the shires!
Thank you for leaving London! I’m getting a little cheesed off being told I should go to London for all digital inclusion events. There is life in the shires!
MJ, absolutely agree with you!
I’m not based in London (based in Sheffield), and hope you can tell from this blog that I spend most of my time travelling the country to see examples of great digital innovations and uses of technology in the voluntary and community sector in the shires and the market towns that are far outside that London!
Thanks for pointing out the Empowerment Fund, shame it doesn’t apply to Scotland.
Look forward to reading all about your travels to sunny Sunderland!
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