Transcript Digital Inclusion Team & Kent County Council

Digital Inclusion Team & Kent
County Council
Project definitions
22 DEC 2008
Text Groups
Connecting communities via SMS technology
Outline
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Individuals approach a local representative to set up a group around an interest area [user testing suggested that the greatest
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The local representative assigns a code to the group which people can text to join or opt out
The council negotiates a deal or bulk buys texts to send free/low cost texts. Each group is given a number of texts
Each person can send messages to all other members by texting the group’s code followed by the message to the council
number [Some users already had access to free texts and did not see this as a key selling point for the service]
Members contact details and personal information are kept private but, where appropriate, the messages are posted on a
website
Professionals or volunteers moderate the group (depending on the content); where volunteers are suitable the moderation could
be undertaken by group members
Local organisations/ service providers will be made aware of groups and promote them
The service could also be used to text information on related groups or services (people who joined this also joined…)
Examples of types of groups: breast feeding, supermarket deals, film clubs, young mothers, toddler groups
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benefit would be to people who already organise community groups]
Potential for wider roll-out
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Straightforward to implement
Similar solutions are already in use so existing technology could be adopted and adapted relatively easily (e.g. Twitter)
The solution should be easy to transfer to other local authorities
The sustainability will depend upon its use, monitoring and marketing in each individual area
The service could be used by local service providers to send information via text, offering a cheaper more targeted service than
leaflets/posters etc. so funds from marketing and communications could be sought
For further investigation
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A physical location (e.g. weekly drop-in session at a local venue) to provide advice and support in setting up text groups
Possible types of groups [Users came up with some a few groups, those already organising groups saw value in the service]
Potential ways to reduce the costs of text messages; bulk buying, mobile companies CSR, subsidised by advertising
Ways to reduce the cost of the initial text from a user to whole group via council system
Specific solutions already in place; e.g. Nesta or Twitter (being used in Stratford and Barnet)
Additional applications that could be used; e.g. Pinger, mobladder, Dodgeball
Research into ‘hooks’ that will encourage people to use the service
Design a specification of what the service recognises as a ‘community’ (e.g. number of users/ acceptable themes for group)
Security concerns, particularly when the group promotes face to face meetings
A survey of existing community groups that this service could add value to
Benefits
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Combats social isolation – building larger social networks and providing additional ‘out of hours’ support
Encourages community cohesion
Could provide some groups with more flexible access to expert advice (virtual support)
Some groups may ease demands on services such as social care/health (e.g. residents provide emotional support to one
another)
Offers council and local organisations an efficient way to target information to local residents
[Users felt that sending/ receiving texts from a named source, rather than a number, would add credibility to the information
within them]
Potential to reduce council communications costs
Setup costs
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Application to store numbers and interests
Communication and launch
Project manager (part time)
Local venue (e.g. 1 day per week drop-in)
Ongoing costs
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Local venue/ drop-in session
Regular events to raise awareness/ foster
growth of social networksl
Text messages
Resources to monitor and maintain the
service and to provide regular input (some of
this role could be performed by volunteers)
Professionals to support specific groups
Success Criteria
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Face-to-face meetings/ events – actual community to sustain virtual community
Regular (e.g. weekly) input provided by identified moderator for each group to encourage participation
Consistency of mobile phone numbers
Ability to negotiate a low cost text solution
Adding value to existing groups
Ensuring anonymity of users where necessary
Text groups
No existing
provision
Innovative
Cost
Quantitative
benefits
Qualitative
benefits
Ease of
implementati
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Scalable
nationally
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Sustainable
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User views
Suitability
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context
TEAM
RATING
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Local Display Screens
Display screens to encourage pride and support adult learning projects
Outline
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Set up a series of community display screens in parts of Park Wood where there is high footfall (incl. indoor venues)
Use the screens to publicise positive aspects of the area, encourage local dialogue and increase community participation
The installation of screens would be accompanied by a programme of work to source, create and manage content
The creation of content could support local learning and skills building. Some could be sourced from current groups and projects. New learning
schemes and courses could be created to develop content whilst helping people to build skills
Community content
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Establish adult and community education programme to provide residents with training in digital media literacy, e.g. digital photography, film
projects etc. to support the development of community content for screens
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Source community-generated content to show, e.g. work from local schools, local history projects, local news produced by community groups,
information on e-learning and education, photographs of youth group graffiti art
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Work with local community groups/ representatives (e.g. youth club/ schools/ housing association) to source and create community content
Local communications
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The screens could also promote local information but content should be more than ‘dry’ public service broadcasts to attract attention
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Use the display screens to encourage local dialogue and increase community participation, offering wider access to information on local events and
services
Other potential sources of content
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There may be scope for local businesses to advertise
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Kent TV could be broadcast to fill time between community generated content
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It may be possible to show sporting occasions and major events e.g. the Olympics, concerts
Potential for wider roll-out
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If the concept proved to be successful it would be easy to set up screens elsewhere
Similar ideas already in place in schools and GPs surgeries
The screens could also be linked to websites where content could be uploaded for the general public
Strong synergy with Local Government Empowerment White Paper Digital Mentors programme (the role of mentors is to provide community training
in digital media literacy)
For further investigation
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Ability to partner with local groups or initiatives such as Kent TV, Adult education services, Community Communication Network
Location and size of screen(s) and associated costs (possible shortage of appropriate locations)
The type of content people would like to see
Possibility to show mainstream content from other channels such as BBC or Sky
[The Park Wood Playground is being renovated and there may be potential for the screens to be incorporated into this]
Links with adult and community learning provision of digital media training
Local venue for content creation sessions run by community development worker (weekly sessions)
Benefits
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Projects to generate content could support community cohesion and local projects, competitions and events (e.g. tidy Park Wood)
New community channel to reach out to community to support service signposting, delivery and awareness campaigns
Efficiency gains in communications
Promote positive aspects of Park Wood to challenge low community pride
Could help to publicise useful information from the local authority and other organisations e.g. e-learning course providers
Potential to raise revenue from advertising
[From the user testing it was clear Park Wood lacked a social space for adults in the local area, a screen could help this]
Increasing residents’ digital media skills, confidence and employability
Support development of skills
Setup costs
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Display screens (starting at c.£2,000 for external
screens)
Costs for digital camera/ video camera/ editing
software
Communication and launch
Project manager to source and manage content,
possibly also directing the activities of local groups
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Team to manage content, could be a council web
team
Internet connection to displays
Maintenance of screens
Adult and Community education programme to
provide training in generating content
Success Criteria
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Local
Display
screens
Ongoing costs
Appeal of content, having locally relevant content would be important
Community engagement and digital media training to create content
Buy-in from community members (e.g. youth group involvement) to reduce likelihood of vandalism
[Users main concern was vandalism of the equipment so robust ways to prevent vandalism of the equipment are
needed]
No existing
provision
Innovative
Cost
Quantitative
benefits
Qualitative
benefits
Ease of
implementati
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Scalable
nationally
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Sustainable
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User views
Suitability
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TEAM
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Online Time Bank
Website to facilitate time banks and swap shops online
Outline
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A physically located, supported service in a local venue where people are able to register their skills/ services or goods for
swapping
New time bankers are interviewed and supported to register their details and the services they would like to offer into an online
portal
The physical service is supported by DigiTV, mobile phone and internet services; users can remotely browse or search for
relevant skills and services – either independently or supported by a broker
Examples of common services provided in time banks include: cooking, gardening, photography, DIT, cleaning, baking, help with
the kids, shopping, talking on the phone, crafts, going to the park
Events can be organised using time credits (e.g. for organisation, publicity activities, catering etc.); this could reduce the cost of
community events
[At the user testing event, many of the adults spoke of the lack of opportunities for them to socialise in Park Wood]
Potential for wider roll-out
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There are already 109 time banks in the UK with over 7,000 participants
Time Banking UK offers toolkits, training and events
The website is already national and a partner like DigiTV would enable national roll-out of mobile and DigiTV timebanking
For further investigation
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How DigiTV and mobile can increase the accessibility of the service
Partnership with time banks already active in the area (e.g. Hereson Family and Community Timebank in Ramsgate)
Links with adult education and employability-support schemes to help provide pathways into work
Links with local businesses – e.g. providing training opportunities/ volunteering
Possible rewards as well as skills/goods swaps (there are restrictions on this: DWP ‘Time Exchange’ guidance states that “in a
‘Time Exchange’ scheme, Time Credits cannot be exchanged for goods or services or converted into alternative currency.”)
Security – Time Banking UK subscription includes CRB checks for those working with children/ vulnerable people
[Users were interested in possible rewards as well as skills/goods swaps; may not be possible within the scope of timebanking]
Research work West Kent Extra are already undertaking on time banking in the area
Who would need CRB checks
Benefits
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Builds friendship and trust - leading to increased social networks and greater community cohesion (Timebanking has had proven
success in deprived areas e.g. Lewisham, South London and Gorbals, Glasgow)
Invests in building people’s capacity to help themselves.
Has a non-prescriptive focus on what people can do; therefore encourages use and development of existing skills
Rewards different skills and services on an equal footing (e.g. all time is valued equally) – increasing self-esteem
Childcare services can free people up to work
Increase in self confidence and awareness of skills can put people on the pathway to paid work
[Users could see potential benefits of the scheme and were keen on being able to access a range of services, many of their
suggestions for swaps involved learning (e.g. to cook, drive) as well as gardening, baby sitting etc.]
Eases demands on some services e.g. child care
Setup costs
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A project manager
Develop DigiTV, mobile and web interfaces
Subscription to Time Banking UK (annual fee
of £100 provides the following: best practice
toolkits; access to the members-only area of
the website; use of new software Time Online
for recording exchanges and reporting; Free
CRB checks for participants; Access to the
National Exchange whereby you can
exchange hours with any UK time bank).
Ongoing costs
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Locally accessible venue with computer and
internet access – self-service as well as
access to timebank supported by broker
Full/ part-time broker to interview new
recruits, answer queries, facilitate matches
etc
Periodic marketing and sessions to sign
people up and encourage use
Success Criteria
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Securing valued and relevant services / offers
Take up of facility by locals to achieve critical mass of decent services
[Users need to be confident that their offering will be rewarded with an equal return]
Local venue with onsite time broker to provide support and add visibility to the project
Online time
banks
No existing
provision
Innovative
Cost
Quantitative
benefits
Qualitative
benefits
Ease of
implementati
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Scalable
nationally
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User views
Suitability
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TEAM
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Car sharing
Offering easier, more tailored access to transport
Outline
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The council purchases a small fleet of cars or vans
Users could access a timetable via a mobile-phone compatible website to see when the car is available and book out a slot by
text or phone
The car would be charged at cost per mile
A small charge per hour would be used to ensure people only kept the vehicle for the allotted time
The vehicles would be driven by volunteers or designated drivers
Service provision could be a mix of timetabled services to and from Maidstone and bespoke journeys booked in advance
A timetabled service could be coordinated with crèche facilities
Potential for wider roll-out
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Similar schemes are already run by private companies and other authorities or social enterprises so the technology exists to
support the service
The sustainability of the service would depend on the cost to users
If the service was cost effective it would be popular as it offers greater flexibility, convenience and freedom than buses
For further investigation
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The potential to use schemes already established in the local area e.g. Lift share be extended to Park Wood
Other models such as Wokingham’s social enterprise taxi service
The potential for Arriva, who run public transport facilities, to offer suitable solutions or improve their current offering with more
space for push chairs, real time information on arrivals via text
What the demand for this service would be
The number of driving licences held by the target population
The viability of a self-drive model as opposed to volunteer drivers
Health and safety regulations for volunteers
[Users were concerned that the vehicles would be vandalised. The likelihood of this and ways to prevent it should be explored]
Benefits
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Offers people greater freedom and the ability to travel at times that are convenient for them
Cars are aspirational items and having access to a car could increase self-esteem
Transport sharing could lead to environmental benefits
Setup costs
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Initial cost of purchasing vehicles or paying
for the extension of an existing service
Software to facilitate bookings
Ongoing costs
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Insurance
Maintenance
Staff to run the booking system and drive the
cars
Success Criteria
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Good management of the fleet to ensure the cars are used and returned on time and in good condition
The service being more convenient than the bus and competitively priced
Giving the community a sense of ownership of the service and ensuring people look after the vehicles
[The service needs to match or undercut transport services already available to be a viable option for
users]
Car sharing
No existing
provision
Innovative
Cost
Quantitative
benefits
Qualitative
benefits
Ease of
implementati
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Scalable
nationally
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Sustainable
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User views
Suitability
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context
TEAM
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Group shopping/ bulk buying
Facilitating group online purchases
Outline
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Supported access to online shopping and trading (e.g. eBay), is provided at a local venue, with the potential to make savings on
bulk purchases
Computers with internet access enable both self-service and supported access to online shopping
Users browse supermarket website online and give staff cash for purchases [For users it was important that this person was a
trusted professional]
Staff use a council-funded credit card to place orders
Individuals’ shopping can be delivered direct to their home from the supermarket, using existing delivery mechanisms
[Users were keen for goods to be delivered to their door if possible but still felt that delivery somewhere on the estate would be
more convenient than going to the shops]
Group/ bulk shopping purchases can be delivered to the ordering centre - users are given a time to return when they place their
orders
Regular financial education sessions are offered at the ordering centre (these could be provided by a voluntary organisation, e.g.
CAB)
Potential for wider roll-out
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A simple system should be established initially offering greater access to supermarkets and cheap online deals
There is potential to extend the model to bulk buy goods to be resold in the community
Straightforward to roll out – just needs an organisation/ community development worker to run the facility
For further investigation
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A suitable location for the service
The potential to make a deal with a supermarket [There are also local wholesale depots in the area that could be approached] to
further reduce the price of goods for regular orders
Accounting/tax implications
Potential to extend service to goods other than supermarket shops (e.g. freecycle/ eBay)
Benefits
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Provides users with access to cheaper or free online goods
Saves time and money – avoiding difficulty of taking children to supermarket on public transport
Increases buying power
Opportunities for social interaction
Opportunity to improve computer skills
Access to financial education
Setup costs
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Project manager
PCs and internet access if not already
available
Ongoing costs
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Venue
Marketing
Member of staff to place orders and handle
petty cash
Success Criteria
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A sponsor organisation who could supply the credit card, location and staff
Communicating the service to residents
Proving the service adds value and is a convenient, effective option for users
[Prices need to undercut the (very cheap prices) already being paid]
[Users need to be willing to compromise on brands of items to allow bulk buys]
Bulk buying
No existing
provision
Innovative
Cost
Quantitative
benefits
Qualitative
benefits
Ease of
implementati
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Scalable
nationally
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Sustainable
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User views
Suitability
for local
context
TEAM
RATING
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