People's Voice Media brochure

16pp 250mm brochure_V2 pages.indd 1 10/06/2010 16:35

People’s Voice Media We are a not for profit community development organisation that has been working with communities since 1995. We now work across the UK, using social media to develop dialogue and community cohesion and support communities to have a voice.


Why use social media?Social media offers a way for groups and individuals to have a voice. Even those unfamiliar with technology can use social media to get their voices heard because the tools we use are affordable and accessible. The use of social media improves confidence, empowers individuals and communitiesto develop their own solutions and creates alternative ways of developing dialogue between people, communities and agencies.

WHAT IS SOCIAL MEDIA?

COMMUNITY

REPORTER

SAVES DOG

Social media is a set of internet

tools that enables communities to

come together to create content.

Social media allows individuals

and groups to become content

producers rather than content

consumers. The old model of

communication was ‘one to

many’ – e.g. one organisation

such as the BBC broadcasting

to millions of people. Social

media has allowed a new model

of ‘many to many’ – thousands

create content which thousands

are able to access. Because of

this, social media is the ideal way

for groups and individuals to

have a voice.


What we do We offer a range of products and services to help people have a voice.

The Community Reporter Programme gives people the skills to use social media and accredits this through its Community Reporter badge scheme. Social Media Centres provide a place to socialise, gain support and share experiences and skills, as well as distributing content and acting as a local communication hub.

After completing the course, Community Reporters have many opportunities to further develop their skills, from taking advantage of our regularly advertised reporting opportunities, to becoming involved in Social Reporting at Conferences or carrying out Consultations for agencies and organisations. They can also go on to further training or receive work by becoming part of our Employment Agency.

Our vision

Connect communities through the use of social media

Support civil society and improve governance

Encourage outward looking communities

Create real conversations between communities and public agencies

Ensure that people from all kinds of communities have a voice

To create a ‘Reuters of the Community’


The Community Reporter programme

The Community Reporter Programme is an exciting and innovative way for people to build confidence, learn new skills and have a voice using mobiles, video cameras, webcams and other ‘technology in the pocket’ devices.

Pictured above: Com

munity R

eporters out canvassing opinion in Manchester


Preliminary engagementAnyone can become a Community Reporter – all you need to know is how to send an email - but for individuals or groups who are new to social media, People’s Voice Media offer various warm-up activities. These include engagement activities such as film screenings, taster sessions that familiarise participants with media tools and a Foundation Module that teaches basic skills.

Core TrainingMandatory ModuleThe Community Reporter Course consists of a Mandatory Module which includes blogging, basic photography and story-telling. It also covers health and safety issues, safe online practice, our Editorial Policy and guidance on consent, offering a comprehensive understanding of Community Reporting Best Practice.

Core Modules 1 & 2In addition to the Mandatory Module, participants then need to complete one of two core modules to be eligible for badging (see next column). Core Module 1 offers an introduction to audio skills (interview techniques, recording and editing, podcasting) and Core Module 2 focuses on filmmaking (storyboarding, digital storytelling, basic editing). Participants have the option to take both modules. A standard Community Reporter programme runs for approximately 12 days. However, as a community development organisation, we always keep the needs of the learners at the core of our delivery. This means that we frequently tailor course length and structure to meet the particular abilities and requirements of each individual group.

Community Reporter levelsThere are three levels of Community Reporter:

A Contributor is a Community Reporter who provides occasional content.

A Power Producer is producing content on a regular basis.

A Staff Reporter is volunteering for the organisation on a regular basis, is being sent on assignments and is producing regular content.

Power Producers and Staff Reporters can register with the People’s Voice Media Employment Agency where they can receive paid work on a part time or freelance basis.

Community Reporter badgeOnce they have completed the course participants receive the Community Reporter badge. The badge entitles Community Reporters to:

Access equipment

BBC Masterclasses

Entry to local events

Further training

Become part of UK network of Community Reporters

Upload content to People’s Voice Media community distribution network

Join the Employment Agency


DistributionOnce they have begun creating content, Community Reporters can continue their social media activity in the way that best suits them. Reporters can manage their own blog, upload to the People’s Voice Media Community Reporter content site (communityreporter.co.uk), or share their content on our local community sites and wider distribution networks. The Reporter is in control, and the range of options available ensures that their voice will be heard.

As one Community Reporter said:

It’s given me a routine, confidence, something to talk about when I’m out with my friends, which I didn’t have when I wasn’t doing much, connections with possible work - it is sort of opening up my life very quickly, that’s what’s been good about it.”

Further opportunitiesFlexibility and choice are at the heart of the Community Reporter Programme. We empower participants to tailor the Community Reporter experience to suit their needs, from the pace at which they progress and the technology they choose, to the subjects they talk about and the content they produce.

For those Reporters who want to take their social media experience further, People’s Voice Media can offer Level 1 and 2 accredited courses and can support people in developing new skills so they can join the People’s Voice Media Employment Agency and get involved with Consultancy and Social Reporting.

UK NetworkWe now have an ever-growing network of Community Reporters across the UK, sharing their content on the communityreporter.co.uk site. This means that people can access all of the really local content about their own community whilst also seeing what other reporters are creating across the nation. They can search the site by hobby or interest area - e.g. allotments, music, football - which stimulates their involvement and inspires them to feel more involved in the wider network. It is also a place where Community Reporters can provide peer review and support of each other’s work.

To find out if there are any Community Reporters in your area, check out the website www.peoplesvoicemedia.co.uk/clients-and-partners

“

UK NETWORK



Action based Often the people who hold the most valuable information are local people from the community; we will identify the right group of people for your consultation and train them to become Community Reporters so they can use social media skills to deliver a consultation tailored to your needs.

CASE STUDY Talk BroughtonThe Talk Broughton project gave local people the skills to collect information in the community about issues that were affecting people, particularly relating to worklessness. Those who took part developed personal skills, confidence, and technical skills as Reporters.

Ross Hemmings, Regeneration Investment Officer for Contour Housing Group said: “The results were very useful and were fed back to groups and organisations that work in Salford who can find answers and most importantly find solutions. The success of this approach means that we would consider running similar programmes again in the future.”

Event basedWe will take a video booth to an event, where existing Community Reporters will conduct interviews, canvass opinion and gather information. The video booth is an innovative way of capturing people’s imaginations and attention and the Community Reporters can often be found to be more approachable than ‘official’ researchers.

CASE STUDY North West Mental Health Improvement ProgrammePeople’s Voice Media took a video booth to three sites to assist the North West Mental Health Improvement Programme, where Community Reporters gathered feedback from staff and patients.

Paul Greenwood, User, Carer and Public Engagement Programme Lead of NHS North West said: “Feedback from all of the sites was positive and people felt very welcomed and put at ease by the team. The evidence we have gathered is proving really helpful in supporting the improvement of those services commented upon.”

People’s Voice Media has a strong track record in consultation. We will work with you in close partnership to design and run your project. The two main areas we cover are Action based and Event based.

Pictured left: Com

munity R

eporters undertaking consultation

Consultation16pp 250mm brochure_V2 pages.indd 9 10/06/2010 16:35

Pictured above: Social Reporting at Smart City Futures Conference

Social ReportingAnother way in which our Community Reporter network can be employed to help organisations is reporting back from conferences.


Our Community Reporters will attend conferences and events and gather these stories for you. People’s Voice Media have experience working at large conferences or small events and past clients include Manchester Metropolitan University, World BECTA Learning and Technology Forum, Digital Inclusion Conference 2009 in London, Smart City Future Conference with the University of Salford, the Promise Network with Voluntary Sector North West and the Digital Inclusion Conference 2010.

CASE STUDY 1 Digital Inclusion Conference This large scale, two day event was held in London in March 2010. Four Community Reporters visited the conference and interviewed people on digital issues. The footage was edited in real time and the final film was shown at the end of the second day of the conference to reflect the experiences and views of delegates.

See the video at: www.peoplesvoicemedia.co.uk/case-studies/digital-inclusion-conference-2010

CASE STUDY 2 PROMiSE Network LaunchIn September 2009 People’s Voice Media supported the launch of PROMiSE in Preston, a network of third and independent sector providers of mental health services. The film produced was uploaded to the PROMiSE website as a way of reaching those who were unable to attend the launch, giving a flavour of the day and also as an engaging way of introducing the aims of the PROMiSE Network.

See the video at: www.peoplesvoicemedia.co.uk/case-studies/promise-network-launch-0

If you have ever organised a conference, you will know that it is invaluable to hear back from attendees.


A Social Media Centre is a physical space in which people can interact and learn from one another. Social Media Centres can combine local knowledge with social media technology and skills to promote the activities of a community and can offer a reliable place for Community Reporters to gain regular support.

Social Media Centres can be easily set up, since they are often based in existing Community Centres. How they work and what they offer is different every time, since Social Media Centres are designed to reflect the needs of that community.

All Social Media Centres provide:

A space for people to drop in

Access to the equipment needed to create social media

Internet access for content to be uploaded online

A social space for peer support, skills sharing and information exchange

Once established, Social Media Centres can grow to reflect the activities and interests of the community. For example, content might initially be posted on a community website but in time a Social Media Centre might develop an Internet TV and Radio station whilst cross-posting some content in

a printed and/or online newsletter. When a Social Media Centre offers this combination of skills plus content plus distribution it becomes what we call a Communication Hub – a mechanism that supports dialogue and information exchange between communities and the agencies that serve them.

In our experience, Social Media Centres can create their own income by:

Offering formal and informal training

Offering consultation through developing dialogue between agencies, individuals and communities

Providing an access point for agencies to distribute their messages

Becoming an innovation centre to pilot and develop alternative ways to provide public services using social media

People’s Voice Media offer consultancy packages that oversee the development, set up and maintenance of Social Media Centres. We offer three levels of support in developing Social Media Centres.

This ranges from:

Level 1: Feasibility

Level 2: Practical support for Start Up

Level 3: On going support and networking

Social Media CentresPeople’s Voice Media have found that the best way to sustain the activity of Community Reporters is to set up Social Media Centres.


COMMUNICATION HUB

Benefit to individualsThe range of elements involved in developing a Hub means there is always a variety of activities to choose from and be stimulated by, with individuals able to pick the aspects that suit them, developing skills in their own way and at their own pace and creating their own timetable of involvement.

Benefit to the wider communityTwo way dialogue - with issues, information and comment flowing between community members and agencies.

ACTIVITY

RESULTS

CommunityNEWSLETTERSHOCKNEWS FOR LOCAL

Issue 1

Community WEBSITE

COMMUNITY NEWSLETTERDistributed throughout

the community

COMMUNITY WEBSITEInternet TV and Internet Radiostations provide space for more

in-depth coverage of stories

CONTENTContent from Community Reporters, service providers,

statutory agencies and community members

ONLINE VERSION OF COMMUNITY NEWSLETTERWith embedded audio and video for additional

coverage of items in the newsletter


TRAIN TRAINERS

CONSULTANCY MENTORINGPARTNERSHIP

SERVICESSERVICES

DROP-IN

TRAINING

COMMUNICATIONS HUB

QUALIFICATIONS

SOCIAL REPORTING

TEACHING/MENTORING

ACTION BASEDCONSULTATION

EVENT BASEDCONSULTATION

A PATH TO SUIT YOU

Bob accesses the drop-ins at a Social Media Centre. He hasn’t used computers before but is able to build up his skills and confidence in an informal setting.

He sees Community Reporters using the centre and decides to take a course himself.

He loves it so much he becomes a Staff Reporter, which gives him targeted support to develop his skill level so he can join the People’s Voice Media Employment Agency.

He is now getting paid to run Social Reporting at Conferences.

EMPLOYMENT AGENCY OUTCOME

PARTNERSHIP

Sunnyfields Community Centre already provide locally based services but want to include ‘value-added’ services.

People’s Voice Media offer them a feasibility study around becoming a Social Media Centre.

The centre is supported in creating a development package that suits their needs and becomes a partner of People’s Voice Media.

They now have access to subsidised training packages, consultancy on funding streams, ready-made training materials and much more.

CONSULTANCY

Goodhomes, a Registered Social Landlord, want to improve their tenant engagement, from people reporting on estate issues to creating better dialogue with a Residents’ Association.

People’s Voice Media work with Goodhomes on an Action Based Consultation, developing local Community Reporters who talk with their neighbours and share any issues via a community blog.

This activity is supported by Event Based Consultation where people can air their views in a private video booth.

People’s Voice Media continue to support Goodhomes in driving innovation and they are now piloting video letters posted on a community blog as an effective way to communicate with residents.

As an individual or organisation your needs are unique – and so is the way People’s Voice Media will work with you. Our focus on flexibility, our variety of services and our wide range of approaches means you can choose a path that’s tailored to you, delivering everything you need.

SOME EXAMPLE PATHWAYS:


Next stepsThere are a number of other ways in which People’s Voice Media can support you to bring social media for community development to your area. Get in touch to find out more.

PartnershipMore organisations are joining our national network as partners of People’s Voice Media. The value of the partnership is that you have instant access to a wide range of resources, expertise, knowledge and support. This includes our Community Reporter Toolkit, our Online Tutor Resources, policies, marketing materials and much more. We can also assist with product development, the selling of aggregated content, the chance to joint bid on a national platform and linking you with like-minded partners across our network. The partnership denotes a high quality of delivery that is standardised across all partners.

ConsultancySupport is available to help you develop a Community Reporter programme, a Social Media Centre or to start your own local network. We can also advise around business development, contract facilitation and negotiation, promotion and marketing, or facilitate innovation workshops, e.g. to develop linkage between your services and social media.

Train the TrainersOur structured programme gives people all the skills and knowledge they need to become a certified trainer of the Community Reporter programme. Trainers have the opportunity to deliver programmes across the UK.

MentoringPeople’s Voice Media will offer mentoring and support to facilitate the smooth and effective implementation of social media activities in your organisation.

Our vision is to support the creation of content that is relevant and locally produced, to generate dialogue and discussion and to involve as many people as possible in the process of giving voice to communities.

As you can see, we have many different ways of approaching this vision, each one as different as the community or group we create it for.

So, contact us now to find out how we can help you connect communities in your area.

To find out how People’s Voice Media can help you, contact:

Email [email protected]

Tel +44 (0)161 230 1430


People’s Voice Media is a registered charity in England and WalesRegistered Charity 1059681 Company No 3083575

Head Office Grange, Pilgrim Drive, Manchester M11 3TQ Tel +44 (0)161 230 1430Email [email protected]

All the pictures taken by Community Reporters and students on the iMedia CourseDesigned by Transmission Creative www.transmissioncreative.co.uk

People’s Voice Media are proud to be aRegional BBC Connect and Create Partner


Documents

People's Voice Media brochure