SMART Big Society – Digitally Enabled Citizen and Public Servant !!

Karen CheneyCommunity Empowerment Lead – Birmingham City Council

Introduction

Not a social media expert but enthusiast - see the practical application to enhance empowerment and engagement opportunities

Digitally Enhanced Citizen – someone who is well informed to and able to influence/ comment on / access decision making / access to further information

Mutual relationship between Local Authority and citizen – collaboration / co production

LA needs to be receptive/ open to influence/ willing to let go / 2 way dialogue – benefits outweigh the risks !

INVOLVE – Northfield Young People’s Forum 2005 -

www.involvenorthfield.com Young people designed own brand and

website- enabling both forum and a wider network

Involve – Northfield Young Peoples Forum 2005-

Innovation Podcasts :Radio Involve / Video Involve Bluetooth –DV and young people + Ice Gym

But Social Media not just for young people….

Community Asset Transfer in Birmingham 2009/10

www.communityassettransfer.com Website: progress of programme warts and

all - mutual learning, trust and understanding – see what we do

Accountability

Community Asset Transfer in Birmingham 2009/10

Putting names to LA faces – interviews and podcasts rather than just dry reports

Honest dialogue – no editing/accessible/open and transparent

Birmingham Local Democracy Week

www.birminghamlocaldemocracyweek.com Flip training for com activists/ workers and social

reporting

Birmingham Local Democracy Week

Blogging – events / conversations are co produced …

Final thoughts….

Worked well because a great partnership between LA and experts in the community sector

Perhaps needs to be kept under the radar and not captured by marketing and communications!

Public seem to like the conversation – opens up dialogue and change of culture/ relationship between LA and the public

Social Media adds a valuable option to community engagement and empowerment but not to be used instead of face to face talking to communities.

LA doesn’t always have to be in control and doing the doing – can learn a lot from just listening in, following not leading ….