William Perrin TAL

Connecting Stafford

27 July 2010

William Perrinwilliam@talkaboutlocal.orginfo@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

http://talkaboutlocal.org/faq/

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

info@talkaboutlocal.org

william@talkaboutlocal.org

@willperrin

Talk About Local (West Midlands) Ltdhttp://talkaboutlocal.org/faq