I (Peter Anderson) used to be the MD of Buzinet Solutions, a fairly large IT firm based in SW Wales. It was while running this company that many social groups approached us wanting to use technology and the web more effectively.
At this point I created a project that was to deliver the latest technologies to social groups, where these internet tools would be delivered to the groups by unemployed people on IT training programmes. So not only did the groups receive the technology, but also additional capacity and man power to good make use of them.
This project was funded by the WCVA (10k) and was successful in its aims but I realised that before the model could be rolled out on a nationwide basis we needed to create a comprehensive groups directory (the social equivalent of yell.co.uk) for the UK first.
This led me to the realisation that there is a huge amount of information about our own communities that is almost impossible to access easily. This is where the concept of a “Comprehensive Community Resource” for all 9763 communities and the UK’s “No.1 local social network” was born.
The next realisation was that we could not comprehensively capacity build with social groups until there was first a UK wide directory, (similar to yell.co.uk but for our social needs), so this became our primary objective.
Following on from this came the ideas for a local marketplace, local car sharing, local social networking, community carbon footprinting tools etc.
The most recent development has been "The VOICE" in response to the lack of communication & dialogue between governing councils and the citizens they represent.
Thursday, 25 September 2008
What problems is LocalEyes addressing?
Presently there is little communication between the key decision makers in a community and the majority of the residents, and consequently many people feel unempowered. It is our aim to radically improve this, thus engaging & empowering individuals while improving social interaction and local democracy.“Public opinion is undoubtedly the largest superpower on the planet but is still largely uncoordinated.”
Many people do not know enough about the people, groups and businesses in their own communities and are still relatively socially isolated as a result. Also, the process of reducing the cost of living, our carbon footprints and dependency on oil, leading us towards a sustainable and resilient future, largely revolves around connecting to everything that is local.
Many social groups are not making the best use of the web technologies available and consequently struggle to promote their activities, engage existing members and attract new members.
There is a lack of funds that are easily accessible for local community initiatives.
It is very difficult to gauge our progress in relation to climate change without being able to calculate community carbon footprints.
Many people do not know enough about the people, groups and businesses in their own communities and are still relatively socially isolated as a result. Also, the process of reducing the cost of living, our carbon footprints and dependency on oil, leading us towards a sustainable and resilient future, largely revolves around connecting to everything that is local.
Many social groups are not making the best use of the web technologies available and consequently struggle to promote their activities, engage existing members and attract new members.
There is a lack of funds that are easily accessible for local community initiatives.
It is very difficult to gauge our progress in relation to climate change without being able to calculate community carbon footprints.
LocalEyes - a network of networks
The following screenshot gives a good visual overview of the project...
http://www.localeyes.org/beta07/voice/communities_profile_homepage.asp
http://www.localeyes.org/beta07/voice/communities_profile_homepage.asp
Imagine ..
… the voting technology seen on X-Factor and Strictly Come Dancing grounded into the community enabling the residents or members of social groups to vote on local topics, involving them in the decision making processes and facilitating consultation with governing bodies.
… the voting technology seen on Who Wants To Be A Millionaire, working in our local village/town halls, where people gather on a regular basis (i.e. quarterly) to discuss, debate and then vote on local issues in a collective space
… the social networking abilities of Facebook or MySpace grounded into the community to enable local people to make local connections with like- minded people, then go out the door and meet those people face to face.
… Yellow Pages for social groups instead of just businesses, connecting & engaging people with the activities & events happening in the local area.
… having the tools to help reduce your community’s carbon footprint – be it car share, how to go plastic bag free or sourcing local produce.
… a local version of eBay combined with FreeCycle & SwapShop, that creates a local marketplace for people to buy or sell local products, fresh produce, arts & crafts, FreeCycle or swap items.
… a summary of all this information coming to your inbox on a weekly/fortnightly basis, showing exactly how diverse, active & engaging our communities really are.
... now you should have a fairly good idea about what we're trying to achieve.
… the voting technology seen on Who Wants To Be A Millionaire, working in our local village/town halls, where people gather on a regular basis (i.e. quarterly) to discuss, debate and then vote on local issues in a collective space
… the social networking abilities of Facebook or MySpace grounded into the community to enable local people to make local connections with like- minded people, then go out the door and meet those people face to face.
… Yellow Pages for social groups instead of just businesses, connecting & engaging people with the activities & events happening in the local area.
… having the tools to help reduce your community’s carbon footprint – be it car share, how to go plastic bag free or sourcing local produce.
… a local version of eBay combined with FreeCycle & SwapShop, that creates a local marketplace for people to buy or sell local products, fresh produce, arts & crafts, FreeCycle or swap items.
… a summary of all this information coming to your inbox on a weekly/fortnightly basis, showing exactly how diverse, active & engaging our communities really are.
... now you should have a fairly good idea about what we're trying to achieve.
Main objectives ..
The project is called LocalEyes and has 2 humble objectives:
1. To give a VOICE to every man, woman & child (on local issues)
2. To become the world's no.1 LOCAL social network (grounded in action)
1. To give a VOICE to every man, woman & child (on local issues)
2. To become the world's no.1 LOCAL social network (grounded in action)
LocalEyes Funders
Funding has been secured from the following sources:
SCC (Somerset County Council)
Broad Haven Primary School
NESTA (National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts)
UnLtd (Supporting Social Entrepreneurs, levels 1 & 2 grants awarded)
TFN (The Funding Network)
TalkTalk (Innovation in the Community)
WCVA, (Welsh Council for Voluntary Action)
Private Sponsors
SCC (Somerset County Council)
Broad Haven Primary School
NESTA (National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts)
UnLtd (Supporting Social Entrepreneurs, levels 1 & 2 grants awarded)
TFN (The Funding Network)
TalkTalk (Innovation in the Community)
WCVA, (Welsh Council for Voluntary Action)
Private Sponsors
LocalEyes Partnerships
Research, planning & advice partners:
Involve: specialists in civic engagement and public participation projects will be providing the monitoring and evaluation aspects. They can also identify partner organisation to assist in delivery
http://www.involve.org.uk
NESTA: “making innovation flourish” will be providing consultancy, advice and assistance regarding partnerships.
http://www.nesta.org.uk
Council on Social Action: They are helping to generate ideas and initiatives through which Government and other key stakeholders can inspire, catalyse and celebrate social action.
http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/social_action.aspx
UnLtd: Providing extensive support and networks to promote the service.
http://www.unltd.org.uk
UK SDC: Peter Davies, vice chair of the UK Sustainable Development Commission has headed the advisory board for the project from its inception 5 years ago and provides ongoing support, advice and links into complimentary projects.
http://www.sd-commission.org.uk/
Schumacher Institute (for sustainable systems): are providing support and advise on an ongoing basis. They also host all our meetings in the Bristol area.
http://www.schumacherinstitute.org.uk
eQuality Networks: providing advice in involving groups that otherwise would be overlooked, so in a project looking to empower and to improve democracy, their understanding will be key.
http://www.equalitynetworks.org.uk
If you would like to partner with LocalEyes .. please email interested@localeyes.org
Involve: specialists in civic engagement and public participation projects will be providing the monitoring and evaluation aspects. They can also identify partner organisation to assist in delivery
http://www.involve.org.uk
NESTA: “making innovation flourish” will be providing consultancy, advice and assistance regarding partnerships.
http://www.nesta.org.uk
Council on Social Action: They are helping to generate ideas and initiatives through which Government and other key stakeholders can inspire, catalyse and celebrate social action.
http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/social_action.aspx
UnLtd: Providing extensive support and networks to promote the service.
http://www.unltd.org.uk
UK SDC: Peter Davies, vice chair of the UK Sustainable Development Commission has headed the advisory board for the project from its inception 5 years ago and provides ongoing support, advice and links into complimentary projects.
http://www.sd-commission.org.uk/
Schumacher Institute (for sustainable systems): are providing support and advise on an ongoing basis. They also host all our meetings in the Bristol area.
http://www.schumacherinstitute.org.uk
eQuality Networks: providing advice in involving groups that otherwise would be overlooked, so in a project looking to empower and to improve democracy, their understanding will be key.
http://www.equalitynetworks.org.uk
If you would like to partner with LocalEyes .. please email interested@localeyes.org
Acknowledgement from Gordon Brown!
As well as winning Millennium Awards Level 1 & 2 from UnLtd, the TalkTalk Innovation in the Community Award from Citizens Online, LocalEyes was also short listed for “The Revolutionary Award” in Gordon Brown’s recent social innovation awards. The project was given a special commendation as “The One to Watch” and of the 24 nominees in the entire competition, was one 1 of 3 projects to be awarded ongoing support by NESTA “making innovation flourish”.
Benefits The VOICE will have ..
LocalEyes has the potential to give a voice to every man woman and child in the UK (on local issues)
The benefits of this innovative communication platform will be:
1. Empowerment of the youth, residents, group members, parents, customers or employees,
2. Comprehensive and frequent consultations can take place on a regular basis at little expense and with minimum effort
3. Social groups will be able to engage their existing members in a more professional way and promote their campaigns to a wider audience
4. Head teachers at primary & secondary schools will be able to better fulfil their remit to “listen to learners”, and carry out comprehensive consultations with all their students
5. Community, District & County councils will be able to vastly improve their consultation and public engagement processes giving them much more accurate and regular feedback on local issues
The benefits of this innovative communication platform will be:
1. Empowerment of the youth, residents, group members, parents, customers or employees,
2. Comprehensive and frequent consultations can take place on a regular basis at little expense and with minimum effort
3. Social groups will be able to engage their existing members in a more professional way and promote their campaigns to a wider audience
4. Head teachers at primary & secondary schools will be able to better fulfil their remit to “listen to learners”, and carry out comprehensive consultations with all their students
5. Community, District & County councils will be able to vastly improve their consultation and public engagement processes giving them much more accurate and regular feedback on local issues
What effect the VOICE could have on Climate Change
Communication, empowerment & the sharing of best practice between communities is essential if we are to successfully collaborate and coordinate our efforts towards the common goal of combating climate change within the necessary time frame.
Communication: Currently there is no easy way to survey opinion or engage people over any geographical area using technology. This is extraordinary considering the diverse range of communication tools that are available to us. The traditional methods of clipboards, door knocking and local events are still the only options available to most people who wish to promote their campaigns and initiatives. The VOICE will revolutionise this process, creating a digital voting & engagement tool for resident of ALL communities to easily engage in. The VOICE will enable collaborative working between people and social groups utilising technology to great effect.
Empowerment: Studies show that one of the root causes of climate change is a lack of empowerment. People feel helpless to tackle such an enormous complex issue, especially as our power structures, our governing councils, do not regularly consult the people they represent. The VOICE has the potential to transform this engagement, creating a consultation tool for all 9763 community councils, 434 District Councils and 117 County Councils in the UK. We are already piloting the VOICE in schools in Pembrokeshire & Somerset as a way to show the wider community how this new form of empowerment and consultation will work.
Sharing Best Practice: We know there are lots of fantastic climate change related projects taking place in communities all over the UK. Never the less, it is still very difficult to share and compare these projects. The VOICE will create a digital map of these projects allowing people to monitor their progress, their degree of success and identify best practices.
Communication: Currently there is no easy way to survey opinion or engage people over any geographical area using technology. This is extraordinary considering the diverse range of communication tools that are available to us. The traditional methods of clipboards, door knocking and local events are still the only options available to most people who wish to promote their campaigns and initiatives. The VOICE will revolutionise this process, creating a digital voting & engagement tool for resident of ALL communities to easily engage in. The VOICE will enable collaborative working between people and social groups utilising technology to great effect.
Empowerment: Studies show that one of the root causes of climate change is a lack of empowerment. People feel helpless to tackle such an enormous complex issue, especially as our power structures, our governing councils, do not regularly consult the people they represent. The VOICE has the potential to transform this engagement, creating a consultation tool for all 9763 community councils, 434 District Councils and 117 County Councils in the UK. We are already piloting the VOICE in schools in Pembrokeshire & Somerset as a way to show the wider community how this new form of empowerment and consultation will work.
Sharing Best Practice: We know there are lots of fantastic climate change related projects taking place in communities all over the UK. Never the less, it is still very difficult to share and compare these projects. The VOICE will create a digital map of these projects allowing people to monitor their progress, their degree of success and identify best practices.
LocalEyes - The VOICE
We will create a consultation tool, called the “VOICE” that will dramatically improve the communication infrastructure in any community or social network.
We will pilot this new technology in 5 areas throughout the UK that have active “Transition Town” groups. Over 30 Transition Towns and environmental groups have expressed a keen interest in piloting LocalEyes in their areas. The pilots will most likely be located in Totnes, IvyBridge, Torbay, Glastonbury & Bro Gwaun (Pembrokeshire).
Once the pilots are complete, the benefits of the software proven and the kinks ironed out, this consultation tool will be promoted to hundreds of other areas throughout the UK, firstly via other groups in Transition Network (of which there are 7/800 groups) and then through other established networks.
The consultation tool can be applied to various different sectors:
“Kids VOICE”: for ages 7 to 10
“Teenage VOICE”: for ages 11 to 18
“Community VOICE”: for geographical communities (there are 9763 “wards” in the UK)
“District VOICE”: for geographical districts (there are 434 districts in the UK)
“County VOICE”: for geographical counties (there are 117 in the UK)
“Group VOICE”: for any social group
“Business VOICE”: for any business
2 small pilots have been successfully completed so far. The reports of which can be viewed here:
Kids VOICE: http://www.localeyes.org/docs/2008/Broad%20Haven%20Primary%20School.doc
Community VOICE: http://www.localeyes.org/docs/2008/the_Havens_community.doc
These new communication tools will have 2 fundamental functions:
1. To Empower People: enabling a dialogue between any governing bodies and their members, empowering people and engaging people in the decision making processes.
2. To Identify Demand: enabling a community (geographic or social interest) to be self organising, identifying areas of common interest and demand for services
The “Empowerment” tool will be applied to:
1. Primary & Secondary Schools: enabling consultation between students and head teachers/schools councils, between parents and schools and between the youth and their community/town councils
2. Community, Districts & County Councils: enabling consultation between residents and their governing councils
3. Social Groups: enabling consultation between group members and the group leaders. (more applicable to large groups i.e. churches, W.I., Residents Associations, U3A etc)
4. Businesses: enabling a dialogue between customers and the business or staff and the management
The “Demand Identifier” tool will:
Enable trigger levels to be set for any project/initiative.What are Trigger Levels?
A trigger level is the number of people or votes a project needs to make it worthwhile and get it off the ground. Examples:
15 people to create a new football team
50 people to set up a new organic food box delivery
1500 people to warrant erecting a local wind turbine
5000 people to tackle a policy at the local council.
In short, trigger levels enable people to identify demand for an initiative, a product or a service before initiating supply, minimising effort and maximising the chances of success for the new project
[When BT launched their broadband service in Pembrokeshire, they used this trigger level method to great effect. BT only turned on the broadband service in each community once 60% of residents had ticked the box on the BT website, confirming that they would purchase the service.]
What will it look like?
Imagine...
… the voting technology seen on X-Factor and Strictly Come Dancing grounded into the community enabling the residents or members of social groups to vote on local topics, involving them in the decision making processes and facilitating consultation with governing bodies.
… the voting technology seen on Who Wants To Be A Millionaire, working in our local village/town halls, where people gather on a regular basis (i.e. quarterly) to discuss and debate and then vote on local issues in a collective space
Mobile Voting:
We will prove these democratic and engagement processes using the latest in mobile voting technologies. Partnerships with projects like http://www.qmob.co.uk/ need to be explored.
The VOICE: Spotlight & Conveyor belt
People will have the option of signing up to the VOICE newsletter (the conveyor belt) that will put the spotlight on 1 community and 1 district topic every 1 or 2 weeks. This way, by signing up to the VOICE, individuals will be introduced to potentially hundreds of local initiatives each year, but crucially, these will be received in a digestible manor. See screenshot: http://www.localeyes.org/beta07/newsletter_community.asp
This process has the added benefits that:
· Local people will be focusing on one/two project collectively, enhancing the likelihood for stimulating debate and further engagement with the initiative.
· Social groups will be working together and benefiting from each others networks. This conveyor belt concept will enable collaborative working in the social sector.
See diagram: http://www.localeyes.org/docs/16f.spotlight.localeyes.community.level.gif
The Process:
Anyone in a community will be able to suggest a topic.
These topics are then rated by the community.
The highest rated and most popular topics are then allocated a date and slot on the VOICE (conveyor belt).
The results of these consultations are published
Action points are then created based on the results.
See screenshot (Rating topics): http://www.localeyes.org/beta07/voice/voice_search_rate_topics.asp
Video: All topics are split into arguments “for” and “against”. Individuals, groups or councils will be able to post arguments in video format making the experience of voting on topics much more engaging. See screenshot: http://www.localeyes.org/beta07/voice/voice_current_topic_detail.asp Collaboration with companies like WebsEdgeTV, http://www.websedgetv.com who create video content for district councils needs to be explored further. They have confirmed that most of their clients (between 1/200 district councils) have been requesting digital public consultation tools. They approached LocalEyes at the 2Gether08 conference this year with a view to selling our service to their client base.
Future Potential:
Working with a media partner such as CH4 or BBC, a digital TV channel could be created called “VOICE TV” that would enable people to vote over either the web or via their TV using the “red” interactive button.
Mapping:
All the topics on the system will be both postcode and community (ward) orientated enabling visual mapping to be integrated:
See screenshot: http://www.localeyes.org/beta07/voice/communities_profile_homepage.asp
We will pilot this new technology in 5 areas throughout the UK that have active “Transition Town” groups. Over 30 Transition Towns and environmental groups have expressed a keen interest in piloting LocalEyes in their areas. The pilots will most likely be located in Totnes, IvyBridge, Torbay, Glastonbury & Bro Gwaun (Pembrokeshire).
Once the pilots are complete, the benefits of the software proven and the kinks ironed out, this consultation tool will be promoted to hundreds of other areas throughout the UK, firstly via other groups in Transition Network (of which there are 7/800 groups) and then through other established networks.
The consultation tool can be applied to various different sectors:
“Kids VOICE”: for ages 7 to 10
“Teenage VOICE”: for ages 11 to 18
“Community VOICE”: for geographical communities (there are 9763 “wards” in the UK)
“District VOICE”: for geographical districts (there are 434 districts in the UK)
“County VOICE”: for geographical counties (there are 117 in the UK)
“Group VOICE”: for any social group
“Business VOICE”: for any business
2 small pilots have been successfully completed so far. The reports of which can be viewed here:
Kids VOICE: http://www.localeyes.org/docs/2008/Broad%20Haven%20Primary%20School.doc
Community VOICE: http://www.localeyes.org/docs/2008/the_Havens_community.doc
These new communication tools will have 2 fundamental functions:
1. To Empower People: enabling a dialogue between any governing bodies and their members, empowering people and engaging people in the decision making processes.
2. To Identify Demand: enabling a community (geographic or social interest) to be self organising, identifying areas of common interest and demand for services
The “Empowerment” tool will be applied to:
1. Primary & Secondary Schools: enabling consultation between students and head teachers/schools councils, between parents and schools and between the youth and their community/town councils
2. Community, Districts & County Councils: enabling consultation between residents and their governing councils
3. Social Groups: enabling consultation between group members and the group leaders. (more applicable to large groups i.e. churches, W.I., Residents Associations, U3A etc)
4. Businesses: enabling a dialogue between customers and the business or staff and the management
The “Demand Identifier” tool will:
Enable trigger levels to be set for any project/initiative.What are Trigger Levels?
A trigger level is the number of people or votes a project needs to make it worthwhile and get it off the ground. Examples:
15 people to create a new football team
50 people to set up a new organic food box delivery
1500 people to warrant erecting a local wind turbine
5000 people to tackle a policy at the local council.
In short, trigger levels enable people to identify demand for an initiative, a product or a service before initiating supply, minimising effort and maximising the chances of success for the new project
[When BT launched their broadband service in Pembrokeshire, they used this trigger level method to great effect. BT only turned on the broadband service in each community once 60% of residents had ticked the box on the BT website, confirming that they would purchase the service.]
What will it look like?
Imagine...
… the voting technology seen on X-Factor and Strictly Come Dancing grounded into the community enabling the residents or members of social groups to vote on local topics, involving them in the decision making processes and facilitating consultation with governing bodies.
… the voting technology seen on Who Wants To Be A Millionaire, working in our local village/town halls, where people gather on a regular basis (i.e. quarterly) to discuss and debate and then vote on local issues in a collective space
Mobile Voting:
We will prove these democratic and engagement processes using the latest in mobile voting technologies. Partnerships with projects like http://www.qmob.co.uk/ need to be explored.
The VOICE: Spotlight & Conveyor belt
People will have the option of signing up to the VOICE newsletter (the conveyor belt) that will put the spotlight on 1 community and 1 district topic every 1 or 2 weeks. This way, by signing up to the VOICE, individuals will be introduced to potentially hundreds of local initiatives each year, but crucially, these will be received in a digestible manor. See screenshot: http://www.localeyes.org/beta07/newsletter_community.asp
This process has the added benefits that:
· Local people will be focusing on one/two project collectively, enhancing the likelihood for stimulating debate and further engagement with the initiative.
· Social groups will be working together and benefiting from each others networks. This conveyor belt concept will enable collaborative working in the social sector.
See diagram: http://www.localeyes.org/docs/16f.spotlight.localeyes.community.level.gif
The Process:
Anyone in a community will be able to suggest a topic.
These topics are then rated by the community.
The highest rated and most popular topics are then allocated a date and slot on the VOICE (conveyor belt).
The results of these consultations are published
Action points are then created based on the results.
See screenshot (Rating topics): http://www.localeyes.org/beta07/voice/voice_search_rate_topics.asp
Video: All topics are split into arguments “for” and “against”. Individuals, groups or councils will be able to post arguments in video format making the experience of voting on topics much more engaging. See screenshot: http://www.localeyes.org/beta07/voice/voice_current_topic_detail.asp Collaboration with companies like WebsEdgeTV, http://www.websedgetv.com who create video content for district councils needs to be explored further. They have confirmed that most of their clients (between 1/200 district councils) have been requesting digital public consultation tools. They approached LocalEyes at the 2Gether08 conference this year with a view to selling our service to their client base.
Future Potential:
Working with a media partner such as CH4 or BBC, a digital TV channel could be created called “VOICE TV” that would enable people to vote over either the web or via their TV using the “red” interactive button.
Mapping:
All the topics on the system will be both postcode and community (ward) orientated enabling visual mapping to be integrated:
See screenshot: http://www.localeyes.org/beta07/voice/communities_profile_homepage.asp
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