William Perrin TAL
Connecting Stafford
27 July 2010
William [email protected]@talkaboutlocal.org
Talk About Local (West Midlands) Ltdhttp://talkaboutlocal.org/faq
Abandoned cars and weekly arsonBingfield Park, Rufford Street 2002Gas cylinders often in cars for extra ooomph Pics – Mark Bailey
Stolen moped Grand Prixs c2002Bingfield ParkKings CrossMost Saturdays when Arsenal at homeEnd with traditional moped bonfire Pics – Mark Bailey
The ‘Crackavan’Rufford Street c2002 Pics – Mark Bailey
Caledonian Ward Safer Neighbourhood Panel
North King Cross Environmental Taskforce
West Area Committee
West Area Planning Committee
CYP Management committee
Kings Cross Development Forum
Gifford, Rufford and Randells Residents Association
Team Cally
Sparkplug Management Committee
Planning Applications (dozens)
....but found huge information burden mostly from council and local public services
We used the web to streamline all this
Got stuck in to these local exercises over several years........
‘Strategic plans’ - many
www.kingscrossenvironment.comover 950 articlesFour volunteer writers – aged 40-65Small number of authorsCampaigns, information, wildlife, events etcImportant part of wider regeneration – crime down, streets cleaner, public services more responsive
http://talkaboutlocal.org/faq/
http://talkaboutlocal.org/faq/
£1 million for community under S106Web-led campaign drove people into traditional comms channels required for statutory processesOut-manoeuvred Network Rail
http://talkaboutlocal.org/faq/
Translate council planning documents into locally relevant language It’s an information game
http://talkaboutlocal.org/faq/
Alcohol and entertainment licensingAnother information game we tend to win using the web locallyStrong engagement from Cllr
Simple community action on broken things‘Broken window’ works for us, enhances service levels
Residents involved in website also on Safer Neighbourhoods Panel
Action at own initiative to drive people to meetings through info on website
www.sheffieldforum.co.uk
discussion forum
4.3 million posts
100,000 registered users
Population Sheffield 450,000
Stoke-on-Trent www.pitsnpots.co.ukCampaigning, challenging styleReflects local frustration at political scene3 writers, 30,000 comments on local politics£25 a month
www.digbeth.orgDigbeth gritty industrial area of South B’hamArts, events, positive storiesDigbeth is Good redefined image of Digbeth on lineCosts - £10/monthWordpress blog
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Team of 5 people400 pv a dayThousands of articlesVillage population 500Wordpress.comC£10/month
www.harringayonline.com3,000 membersHarringay Town and Green LanesChatty informal feelWide range of local issues£15 month
http://Kingtonblackboard.orgUK online centre – Marches Access PointRural town life and newsWordpress site
http://W14london.ning.comDeprived area of West LondonStarted August 2009 – with TAL and local NDCLocal discussion and informationNearly 450 members
First catch your local site...http://openlylocal.com/hyperlocal_sites
Society Guardian June 2010
BBC 25 February 2010Talk about local site W14london.ning.com making the news
‘Local websites of all shapes and sizes are providing community news and information to hundreds of thousands of people.....grass roots media can provide an accurate, reliable, popular sources of news and information without regulation or subsidy. Their news values and thresholds are new, reflecting grass roots interests and priorities.’Digital Britain report
Traditional media leaders are coming around to the vision of local sites improving neighbourhoods and holding politicians to account:
Alan Rusbridger, Cudlipp Lecture:‘Depending on your point of view, you may find that vision of new ways of connecting and informing communities inspiring or terrifying. I think it is both – but it is a useful starting point to thinking about the value of journalism, in every sense of the word 'value'. And it is good to be forced to think at an even more basic level – about what journalism is and who can do it.’
72,000 posts4,700 topics880 registered usersExcellent town forum
We’d love to help you create a website for your community
Just drop us a line
@willperrin
Talk About Local (West Midlands) Ltdhttp://talkaboutlocal.org/faq