We were invited to the resident involvement day at Soho Community Centre, Birmingham by the Resident University. We were on hand to give an insight into how social technology can be used to support community related endeavours. There’s already quite a burgeoning online presence for Soho, sites like http://sohowardbirmingham.com/ and http://www.sohofoundation.org.uk/.
The Soho Finger Neighbourhood Forum team, who are in the process of developing an online space, seem to be the link between services / information and residents. They are residents too and so have a more vested interest in what is said and wanted by local people. We showed them some of the more direct tools available online such as the range of services available from My Society.
A few issues regarding the community were raised during the introductions so I attempted some hands on examples of how technology could be used for such matters. I recorded a quick interview with local resident, Reg Everall, who was concerned about the growing problem of bird droppings.
He felt this is on the increase due to the lack of awareness of the consequences of feeding the birds scraps of food. If the community was made aware that the not only was it causing an increase of bird droppings but also not good for them, the problem could be eradicated. Reg suggested leaflets in a few languages (Soho has a diverse ethnic community mix) which could be locally distributed. I suggested that maybe having the same leaflet available online along with some audio version might increase awareness as well as provide a resource for other neighbourhoods to use.
So I was using technology for a number of things here. Initially, to record concerns by local residents, which I uploaded and shared with others at the event in a matter of seconds. I also embedded this into a page I created on the day, quickly and easily, using free tools (There are many simple tools to enable residents to express themselves online). I then suggested how technology could be used to help solve the problem. A leaflet could be produced, with a simple sentence in the main 3 or 4 languages of the neighbourhood. “Please! Do not feed the birds”. I found a leaflet used by Stroud MBC for this very purpose (pdf). With the right links, a few other language versions could be reproduced and also replicated online. The message could also be recorded by local residents in other languages and feature prominently on a Soho related website. All this could be produced very quickly, easily and cost effectively.
The tools I used on the day were: wrrtn.me for a place to put the content I created, audioboo.fm where I uploaded the interview, recorded on my phone, bambuser.com where I streamed some live video from the event.
We know of the high percentage of older people who don’t go online. The reasons cited include access, risk and motivation amongst others. Maybe there’s something more fundamental here. As a teenager growing up in the 80′s, I was usually the one called on by my Mom to program the video recorder, or my Nan would call me round to tune her telly in or sort the aerial out. Maybe our approach to technology and to some extent, how we engage with the younger generation, is inherent in the sense that we begin to ‘switch off’ as we get older. We become less willing to experiment and become increasingly content with what we know and what we have. The phrase “Not like it was in my day” springs to mind.
So in 10 or 20 years time will people of my generation, who grew up with the advent of home computing, continue the trend? “I don’t need to play about with that new I-Mind 5 gizmo – I have my I-pad, that’ll do”. So, as technology continues to evolve at an alarming rate, providing, arguably, more benefits as a result, will older people continue to shun ‘new stuff’? If this is the case, what can we do about it? Is keeping abreast of digital developments fundamental to digital inclusion? like going to the doctors regularly for a check up? or do we accept that we as human beings, we’re simply programmed to behave this way.
Announced a few weeks back with at the Digital Inclusion conference, the new Jobcentreplus Iphone App really does miss the point. Currently (and for a few years now), the Internet provides a wealth of free-to-use tools that if connected and used in a creative manner, can support a whole range of stuff, including unemployment.
What many of the existing, prescribed services fail to recognise when it comes to employment issues is how personal any given situation can be. As is usually the case with tech and folk, one size rarely fits all. There are many CV services, job sites, ‘one stop shops’ claiming that they’re here to help when really, very few of them have the job seeker at heart (It’s now argued that the Government’s push to get everyone online is basically a cost cutting exercise). With many of the manufacturing industries taking a hit during the recession, there is the possibility of many people aged 40+ without the skills to be confident online. Are these figures adding to the 12 odd million so called ‘digitally excluded’?
So can job seekers benefit from being online? Yes and in many ways but the experience should be focussed and supported. The tools available mean that using the Internet can either drive the job seeking endeavours or merely act as a supporting tool to more traditional methods. For example, by using a mix of free Google tools it is possible to create a personalised system which can help keep track of job seeking activities. Email aside, it can be used to manage tasks, contacts, appointments, latest jobs using RSS, writing CVs, covering letters and storing interview tips and tricks, amongst other things.
The social aspect of the web has plenty to offer too. However, it can take time to get to grips with if unfamiliar. There are numerous support networks and finding the right mix of online connections between friends, family, work related and other, can be tricky. But taking the time to be confident with social technology can bring real rewards. Opportunities, information, increased confidence while all the time learning. Learning from others and learning by exploration which confidence brings.
There are opportunities here. Of course by taking steps to become confident with online tools won’t necessarily get anyone a job. Are there enough jobs out there right now? but with the right support, the tools can definitely help. But until the decision makers ‘get’ this stuff though, it sadly doesn’t look like much will change for the foreseeable future.
February 1st, 2010 |
by Stuart Parker Published in
Resources, Training
Here’s a resource that we’re using with a young people’s project to gain a better understanding of the employment market. It’s available to download and use for your own projects. It’s good for creating discussion about the reality of employment as well as using the web to research all the different kinds of work out there.
If you find it useful or have any comments please let us know.
October 2nd, 2009 |
by Stuart Parker Published in
Training
We Share Stuff is looking for people from all manner of industries to help us with a young people’s project in Sandwell, West Midlands. As part of the project, the young people identify industries they might be interested to work in and are set a task to come up with some questions and interview somebody from that particular industry. The interview will only a be a quick fire Q&A style thing and could take the form of video, audio or any other method that the interviewer decides.
So, if you’re based in the West Midlands (or further afield if interviewed online) we’re asking you if you wouldn’t mind joining our interviewee pool. All you need to do is be available for a quick visit / or online chat etc, from the project team at relatively short notice. Just state your name and job / industry that you’re involved with either on this post, email, twitter etc.
We have a 30 minute slot at this West Midlands Regional Observatory event, Tuesday 7th October. As their site says, “…exploring the whys and hows of making public data more accessible. We’ll also look at using social media to improve sharing data and information.”
I’ll be using the time to explore what digital inclusion actually means and to raise some stuff about how we might look at ensuring everyone benefits from the techno rush, not just those who are interested.
We’ve just heard some good news. The proposal we put forward to run an accredited training programme with Sandwell Youth Offending Team has been accepted. We start delivering our social media flavoured course from September. The course is designed to give young people a range of resources, skills and a qualification in support to them finding employment, training or going into education.
Once we have the course underway, we will share the hows and whats in more detail right here.
July 9th, 2009 |
by Stuart Parker Published in
Resources
I’ve started up a new Ning for (West Midlands) organisations and individuals (experienced and new) to collaborate, discuss and explore partnership work and funding. As a relatively new setup (albeit with some experience in bid writing), I know it can be somewhat daunting looking for the right information and people so maybe this could be hub for those links. I wasn’t sure whether to go ahead with setting it up as i’m aware of the increasing number of networks springing up everywhere. However, I haven’t seen anything specific which might spark things in the way i’m thinking. So, let’s give it a go and see what happens.
July 7th, 2009 |
by Stuart Parker Published in
News
Just a quick update on proceedings. As you can see, we’ve trimmed down our logo and site. The site is now a tad faster, looks cleaner and we’ve tried to explain what we do a little better too. A lot of behind the scenes stuff is happening, we’ll update on new projects as and when we get the go ahead.
A few nights after the Digital Britain report was published, I had one of those niggling doubts rear itself at 2am. Apart from the focus of the report aimed more or less at infrastructure and my concerns regarding the vague understanding (and coverage) of participation (inclusion? engagement?), I see more potential harm than good happening as a result of the recommendations. Now I strongly believe that technology can benefit society in many ways but do we need to be aware of the speedy technology evolution in relation to how we keep up with it? With more and more services going online and moves to make data public to create better services and applications… the entire way stuff seems to happen online these days….do we risk further excluding those with basic digital skills? While there are the 15/16 million or so ‘excluded’, ie: don’t use the technology at all, how many more will become excluded (tiered exclusion?) if we don’t take a long, hard look at how we learn about these technologies and the ways we integrate them into our lives? The ‘learning’ aspect should not be playing constant catch up with the tools. New approaches?
I don’t believe the ‘Digital Life Skills’ as recommended by Estelle Morris, addresses this issue. Sadly, it sticks to old policies that really don’t do much in terms of the ‘digital divide’, in my opinion. Where are the initiatives to instigate meaningful engagement? (many digitally excluded people will not simply ‘ask’ for training or skills or ‘walk in’ to centres offering courses. Confidence is still a major barrier) Where are the initiatives that look beyond the ‘mainstream’ and highlight and support the stuff that’s really working? Why don’t we get the developers / mentors / trainers together with the service providers AND their customers, put them in a room for half a day and see what comes out at the end?
A few further questions I had was regarding the current recession. As people look to improve their skills in support of finding work, how many of them lack the understanding of today’s technology and the importance of online culture? Are current resources adequate enough to deliver this understanding?
We Share Stuff is a Social Enterprise based in Birmingham, UK. We share our experience in the social web, to help people make the most of digital opportunities.
