Here at Fazeley Studios with Nick Booth and Gavin Wray from Podnosh on the Social Reporting Training Course .
With colleagues from Neighbourhood Forums and Community Groups learning about how to blog . Sitting next to Robert from Kings Heath Neighbourhood Forum who has just set up his first blog and near to Peter and Jackie who have just loaded up a sensational photo! Shahida is doing AudioBoo……
Nick explaining that social media not journalism but a great, powerful and fun way of connecting and having conversations in neighbourhoods
19th April
Back again for the second week of the Social Reporting Training – people still turned up even tho’ the sun is shining outside.
This week we are concentrating on the use of flips and adding podcasts on to our blogs….people finding the flips easy and fun to use and now trying to upload. Good stuff…
The Flips are available for loan, free of charge to community groups . Please contact Karen on 0121 675 8519
You’ve already seen some of the results of the Flip training with a number of local citizens, including footage from Local Democracy Week events. Here’s a round-up of some more of the videos submitted, starting with the video above which finds Glyn Selwyn, Chair of Bournbrook Neighbourhood Forum, interviewing people about the litter problem in the Bournbrook area of Selly Oak.
Thanks to being trained in using a Flip camera, Glyn was able to capture evidence of some of the affected areas, as well as reflecting the litter picking work being done by volunteers to combat the issue. (more…)
This next video instalment from Birmingham City Council is an insight into Birmingham’s democracy in action, detailing the proceeding for City Council meetings, together with commentary from a wide range of councillors and what democracy means to them.
It makes for an intriguing look at the democratic process at local level, the formalities and traditions which are observed (e.g. nodding at the mace, which you can see at around the 4:35 mark), and a glimpse behind the scenes at the Council Chamber.
Birmingham City Council has recently published some videos which take a magnifying glass to democracy in Birmingham. The first of these puts the spotlight on the ‘mayor making’ process, which gives details of the ceremony involved as well as exploring the role of a Lord Mayor in a modern city.
At around the 4:30 mark there’s further insight into the tradition and a look at the expectations which help to define the role of Lord Mayor of Birmingham.
A group of students from Four Dwellings High School, Quinton and a youth group from Kingstanding have made this film about their research into the activities of Birmingham suffragettes in the early 20th century.
It was made as part of the People and Parliament: Connecting with Communities project. It’s a fascinating video, shedding light on the role education plays in teaching young people about political and democratic history, as well as highlighting what those young people think about the current electoral system.
You can watch the video above – and you can find more videos from this project and other similar content at the UK Parliament YouTube channel.
The Houses of Parliament is providing a free workshop for groups and organisations interested in issues relating to localism and decentralisation, on how to engage with Parliament’s scrutiny of legislation. The event is being run as part of Parliament’s efforts to encourage more groups to engage with legislative scrutiny and will be run by Parliamentary staff. It will be strictly non-partisan.
The workshop will include information on submitting evidence to a Public Bill Committee in the Commons, engaging with members of the Lords as they consider a Bill, accessing independent House of Commons Library research, tracking the progress of a Bill online, understanding secondary legislation. Experts from the Houses of Parliament will be on hand to answer any questions on the parliamentary scrutiny of a Bill.
This event is for organisations with an interest in localism and decentralisation. Due to the number of places available bookings are limited to two per organisation. (more…)
Organised by Birmingham City Council in conjunction with Nechells Ward and Strategic Partnership, there will be a consultation on the Big City Plan and the future of Highgate and Digbeth.
In response to recently issued party guidance on the selection of local government candidates, the Conservative Party in Birmingham has refreshed its procedures for becoming a councillor to make the process more transparent and democratic. This free event is being held at the Council Chamber in the Council House, and will feature a panel of Conservative councillors and candidates who will also take questions from the floor. You do not have to be a member of the Conservative Party to attend.
Constituency: Ladywood, City wide
When: October 13th 2010, 1900 – 2100
Where: Council Chamber, Council House, Victoria Square, Birmingham, B1 1BB
Open to the general public: Yes – RSVP with name and constituency
Birmingham is the largest local authority in Europe, faced with high levels of unemployment and social cohesion issues. The Big Society has an important role to play, and the aim of this event is to work with key stakeholders in the social enterprise sector at all levels to explore how social enterprise can play a leading role in the Big Society.
To find out more information click here to read the event programme and here to download the booking form.
Constituency: Ladywood, City wide
When: October 18th 0900 – 1300
Where: Deaf Cultural Centre, Ladywood Road, Birmingham, B16 8SZ
Open to the general public: Yes
Contact: Debbie Bailey, 0121 771 1411 or debbie.bailey@i-se.co.uk (more…)
