CVS using Web 2.0

Being based at NAVCA, I am focussed on how the work of the ICT Hub is relevant to the infrastructure organisations around the country that are NAVCA members.

I’m finding that there are an increasing number of Councils for Voluntary Serice (CVS) that are using what we call Web 2.0 / New Media tools and techniques (such as blogs or podcasts) on their websites as an extra resource to communicate with their members. There are a number that publish RSS feeds so you can keep up to date with news and information in a feedreader without having to constantly check their website yourself for changes. Not all the news provided is necessarily ICT related, but it is, I feel important to list them somewhere - if nothing else then its a way to see what else is out there.

Whilst this isn’t just what ICT is about (don’t forget the groups that struggle with the basics of ICT, strategy, planning, funding, networking and affordable technical support) these examples do represent a step forward in the way the VCS is using ICT.

The list is short now - your help is needed to make it grow!

GMCVO publish an RSS feed of news from the CVS in Manchester.

Hastings Voluntary Action have two blogs (!) one written and updated regularly by Steve their Chief Offier and the other by John the Information Officer.

High Peak CVS set up a website for their AGM which combines a blog, transcript of the talks, pictures, video and a copy of the powerpoint slides from the day. Wow!

Voluntary Action North Somerset have an RSS feed of News from the organisation on their website.

Peterborough CVS publish an RSS feed of news stories on their website.

Richmond CVS and their ICT project site publish an RSS feed of news about the CVS

Rother Voluntary Action have an RSS feeds from their website of news and updates.

Voluntary Action Rotherham publish an RSS feed of news stories on their website.

Rugby CVS have three blogs written by staff members about the work they do. You can also subscribe by RSS to their newsletter.

Sandwell Council of Volutary Organisations publish an RSS feed of news about their activities and work.

Sefton CVS publish an RSS feed of news about the activities of the CVS

South Hams CVS publish an RSS feed of news about the activities of the CVS

South Lincolnshire CVS have just added as a trial a podcast of news from the CVS to their website.

Stafford District Voluntary Services have a blog site with a wealth of useful resources

Voscur publish a number of RSS feeds from their website of general VCS news and ICT news not just from the Bristol area, but wider too.

Walsall Voluntary Action publish an RSS feed of news about the activities of the CVS

Watford CVS have a blog diary written and updated regularly by their Chief Officer

So if you are a CVS with a blog, if you publish your news through an RSS feed or are doing something innovative with podcasting and want to be listed here, or if you know of one that is, then please contact me.

Thanks

Subscribe with Bloglines

5 Responses to “CVS using Web 2.0”

  1. sean, on November 13th, 2007 at 9:54 am Said:

    re: CVS using Web 2.0

    I think you’ll find our site absolutely littered with rss feeds both our own (cross-fertilesed) and embedded feeds from other sites, even Julies! If you ask nicely I’ll put yours on :)

    Sean

  2. watfordgap, on November 13th, 2007 at 10:10 am Said:

    Thanks for that Sean, I have added a link to Voscur in the list.

    Would be good to cross the link back and add this to the Voscur website …. Thanks !

  3. Food for thought « watfordgap’s travels, on November 15th, 2007 at 5:28 pm Said:

    [...] CVS using Web 2.0 [...]

  4. Richard Hanks, on November 19th, 2007 at 10:49 am Said:

    Hi Paul,

    Great list, and good to see Voluntary Action Rotherham on there. I have been using some Web 2 services to share info with our users, see http://www.varotherham.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=174&Itemid=237
    Includes a delicious account to share web-based resources, a digg account to share interesting news from across the web, a flickr account for photos and a YouTube account for videos (some really nice ones of nominees for our Community Achievement Awards), all have an associated RSS feed.

  5. watfordgap, on November 19th, 2007 at 11:44 am Said:

    That is a really good idea… setting up Digg etc to hold “Richards Top Picks”!
    Its really revolutionising the ways CVS’ work to communicate with their members and local community groups.
    5 years ago there would have been a ’snippets’ type of section in your printed newsletter with just this sort of ‘dugg’ information for all the community groups in Rotherham. Trouble is by the time it was (literally) cut and pasted, printed and distributed it would either be out of date or not relevant once groups got to read it (especially if it was only a quarterly newsletter!), oh and of course don’t forget all the printing costs associated with this type communication..

    I like this service as its presenting the stories and funding opportunities that local groups need to hear, but in (almost) real time.
    Keep it up!

Leave a Reply