Harringay Online- a neighbourhood social network

Hugh FlouchNetworked Neighbourhoods

Harringay Online - Why

• Creating a sense of place

• Empowering

• Engaging• Engaging

• Building community

• Sharing knowledge / Informing

Harringay Online

• Virtual street corner cum café.

• Sugared pill.

• Contributions at level of comfort, but at all • Contributions at level of comfort, but at all costs join!.

• Offline as well as online.

Initial reactions

Impact - Membership

Members Jan 2008 – 220

September 2009 – 1,957+

Visits 400 – 500

Visitors 200 – 250

Impact - big noises• Fighting the betting shop explosion.

• Planning Wins.

• Helping police direct resources.

• Neighbourhood summer party.

• And………..

In March 2009, a councillor mentioned Haringey Council’s new engagement strategy on Twitter. Harringay Online picked this up and started a discussion criticising a perceived lack of consultation. The councillor responded to the discussion to explain and defend the Council’s actions. He also offered a face-to-face meeting. A face-to-face meeting was held with a group of (75% newly engaged) citizens. Outcomes - specific actions were agreed. One participant described the meeting as the best meeting he’d ever been to with the Council.

Impact - everyday differences• Empowering people to take action for themselves with information.

• Connecting people to take action together.• Enabling & encouraging people to access power to create changepower to create change

• Sponsoring / making FOI requests to support action for change.

• Creating connections between groups. Street Cleanliness action.

Hugh FlouchHugh Flouchhugh.flouch@networkedneighbourhoods.com