People’s Voice Media at Heritage Lottery Fund’s Sharing Heritage Launch Event

David Kay and Gary Copitch from People’s Voice Media attended Heritage Lottery Fund’s Sharing Heritage Launch Event at People’s History Museum in Manchester.
People’s Voice Media has recently received funding to run the “Lost Pubs of Chapel Street, Salford” project.
As part of the Launch Event David Kay of People’s Voice Media was interviewed by BBC Historian Michael Wood.

Michael, Heritage Lottery Fund’s ‘champion’ for the new programme, said:
“We have already seen just how much people want to be able to delve into their local history and what those fascinating explorations can reveal. Community projects from last year are now underway including the lost pubs of Salford that were once at the very heart and soul of the town. I can’t wait to hear about the surprising stories that will come out of this new scheme. It’s the people who own history and this is a great opportunity to share that history with others and future generations.”
Group
Pictured are David Kay and Gary Copitch from People’s Voice Media with some of the other groups who received funding from the Heritage Lottery together with members of the Heritage Lottery Fund Board and BBC Historian Michael Wood.
There will be a launch event for the Lost Pubs of Chapel Street at 7.30pm on Thursday 14th March at the Black Lion Pub, Chapel Street, Salford

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@ToxtethTV runs a Community Reporter Programme with @LHTHousing

Liverpool Housing Trust (LHT) tenants hit the ground running when they started an LHT funded Community Reporter course. The reporters interviewed and filmed fellow tenants on the subject of welfare reform. See here for the full article.

This programme is being run by Toxteth TV one of our social licencee holders (check out their fantastic content site here).  This is great news and really shows how the reporter programme can create income for organisations. Reporters will also become members of the Institute of Community Reporters a fast growing network of reporters across the UK.

If you would like more information on the Institute of Communtiy Reporters or the social licence network, please contact gary@peoplesvoicemedia.co.uk or check out this short animated film here.

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Introducing the Institute of Community Reporters Outcomes Framework

   

 

Dr. Luke Dickens, Goldsmiths, November 2012

We are pleased to announce that Dr Luke Dickens from Goldsmiths, University of London, has prepared a paper for the Institute of Community Reporters introducing the Outcome Framework that has been co-produced by People’s Voice Media and the  Storycircle team. The Outcome Framework is a new approach to monitoring and evaluating the Institute of Community Reporters programme.

The paper explains the research collaboration behind the framework, what an outcomes approach involves, and the wider reasons for its development. It also outlines what the new ICR outcomes are, how they relate to the aims of the ICR programme overall, and how PVM will be implementing the framework alongside its partners in the future. It also clarifies how social licence holders can get involved in the implementation of the framework.

Background:

Over the past year, PVM have been working in collaboration with the Storycircle research team based in the Media and Communications Department, Goldsmiths, University of London, who specialise in conducting multi-disciplinary and participatory ‘action research’ with industry partners designed to explore the relationships between narrative exchange, digital technologies and citizenship.

The decision to create this framework was driven by PVM’s desire to undertake evidence-led, strategic reflection on the ways it might address a number of challenges that many similar organisations are facing in the current period:

  • the need to sustain the skills and networks of local groups after their initial training experience
  • the need to support public engagement with community reported content in ways that align with the fast moving technologies and trends of the web
  • the need to position programmed activity in a climate of reduced funding and increased competition in the wider sector

Goldsmiths, for its part, was interested in conducting sustained research with (and not just about) a nationally focused community media organization as it undertook a process of reflection and adjustment in response to the development of digital infrastructures, methods and tools. Goldsmiths’ aim was to produce parallel research findings about the nature of narrative exchange, digital technologies, and connected modes of citizenship and civic organisations in this context.

The implementation of the Outcomes Framework and production of parallel research findings are therefore hoped to offer key benefits for PVM, its partners in the sector and the growing body of community reporters in the UK and beyond who operate under the ICR programme. Internally, the framework will allow PVM to account for the strengths and weaknesses of the programme, and crucially, reflect this information back to itself as an organisation in a way that will enable the effective targeting of future activity. Externally, it will help establish a robust national evidence-base in order to demonstrate the potential impacts of the community reporter programme to public audiences, funding bodies, policy makers, and the digital economy research community.

To read the paper in full:

Download a copy of the Outcome Framework Paper here.
Read a copy of the paper online here.
Email a request for a copy of the paper to be sent to you here.

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Year of Health and Well Being – Some great stories from @VSNWnews listen, value and invest

Voluntary Sector North West  have a great idea.  They have created a web site Listen Value and Invest  to  share  stories, and ask decision-makers to commit to real action to listen to, value and invest in the Third Sector. They  say “As Big Society becomes the big news for the third sector, against a backdrop of financial cuts, we are asking the government and statutory agencies to listen to, value and invest in individuals, communities and the third sector”

The site really highlights some of the great work being carried out and there are loads of great stories.  I have highlighted just  3 films that were produced  for  work being carried out in the Heath and Well Being sector

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Celebrate good times…come on!

The nights are drawing in so it seemed like the perfect time to share with you some lovely pictures of the latest round of Community Reporters recieving their membership badges to the Institute of Community Reporters.

First off, the wonderful folks at Jennyruth in Ripon, North Yorkshire. The group were trained by our Social Licence holder in York MRS Consultancy, as part of the ISABEL project. They were supported in making some wonderful films and thoroughly enjoyed the process…as can be seen refected in one their finished pieces here. A beautiful job, well done to all and I’m happy to welcome the learners into the Institute of Community Reporters.

Next up, Breakthrough UK. We delivered a full, 12 week Community Reporter programme, as part funded by the Right to Control trailblazer pilot. The were incredibly committed, creative, sharp and great fun to work with and they produced tons and tons of content! Below is a picture from the presentation ceremony – again, we offer the members a warm welcome ot the Institute and congratulations on a job well done.

Finally – for now – Bonfire night had an extra bang for some Great Places residents in Oldham. The group recently completed some film-making sessions which earns them Silver membership to the Institute of Community Reporters. On top of creating some great work – a film-making first for all of the group – they were thrilled to receive their badges and certificates to the ICR. Also worthy of note – it’s great to see a Housing Association using its own residents to develop peer to peer promotion. Really forward thinking. Good luck to their new Commuinty Reporters.

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What a great idea from The Big Issue North: A Digital Street magazine

The Big issue in the North one of our partners in the Health and Well being  programme in Salford has come up with a great idea. A Digital Street Magazine.

From 29th October, The Big Issue in the North will be available from street vendors in Manchester both in its traditional print format and as a printed card featuring a unique redemption code which, when typed into a web browser or scanned with a mobile phone, will download the digital edition of the magazine.

The digital edition – which is backed by the International Network of Street Papers (INSP), a charity which supports street papers throughout the world – is designed to give people a choice in the way that they read the magazine. The Big Issue in the North hopes that it will help them to engage with a new audience, many of who prefer to read content on mobile phones and tablet.

To take a look at a sample issue of the magazine visit www.binorthdigital.com and type in the following access code: : RC8XPFAG/2352

It’s great to see  organisations embracing new and innovative approaches that are not only using the new form of communications but supporting people to have a voice. Hope the project is a success and would be really interested in hearing how it goes.

If you want any more information on the project then contact  Victoria Blakeley at Citypress on Victoria.blakeley@citypress.co.ukor 0161 2385 0330 / 07590 658 301

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Is it really grim up east Manchester?

Institute of Community ReportersCommunity Reporting is all about local people telling stories about their local area and community. East Manchester has featured in the news recently following the killing of two female police officers in the area.

The Observer this Sunday wrote that “parts of Greater Manchester are effectively in lockdown” however for People’s Voice Media, who have worked in the area for well over a decade, there is a rather different picture.

Local residents have been producing a variety of stories highlighting their local community and it’s not about weapons and terror on the streets.

Instead it is those everyday real life stories about Edge Lane Allotments (on the borders of Clayton and Droylsden) holding a Neighbours Day:

An allotment as an oasis.

East Manchester residents celebrating growing their own food:

The Observer describes “North Road that cuts through the east Manchester district of Clayton, a police car can be seen scouting a red-brick boxing gym every 15 minutes… part of the huge police operation designed to stymie further bloodshed”. Less than a third of a mile away is Clayton Sure Start at the Wells Centre.

People’s Voice Media has been running sessions here for many years, giving people the skills to tell their stories and publish them online.

Stories such as what goes on at The Wells Centre

… or the importance of volunteering and getting involved in your local charity shop.

So whilst The Observer reports hopes that “Greater Manchester’s east side does not descend into the intercine gun war that engulfed the south of the city two decades ago” Community Reporters tell a different story.

For more stories from Community Reporters in Manchester see:
http://communityreporter.co.uk/manchester

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