Is Richmond ready to go digital…?

A few things have caught my attention this week, which centre around using digital approaches to the role of Community Links, and to that of the Council generally.

I attended an interesting little ‘meet-up’ on Tuesday – a new group called #DigiWest, that aims to bring
together people from the SW London area that have interests and skills in digital technologies. Although small in number, the discussions were really interesting, and I got to explore with the others what further role digital could play for community engagement.

I was asking, because many (if not all?) Local Authorities will surely be assessing how can we strive to be more efficient, and looking at what role 'digital' play in this? We already do many things where digital is an option – e.g. our consultations are predominantly filled in on-line, residents can do many things like pay bills through the website, and we include social media in our ‘engagement’ work. These are a few examples of building digital in to the mix of what we do, but I suspect that there are more

profound changes that could be made to shake things up (digitally speaking). The change needs to be more than skin (or webpage) deep.

The background to all this, that probably originally spiked my interest, was the reference to developing the use of e-technology to involve residents, outlined in the current administration’s manifesto. NB: Apparently I am ‘the office geek’, so my interest is probably already 204.3 times greater than that of my colleagues on these matters. There was concern that this could have been a touch offensive to me, but I was rather flattered…thus proving the point I guess…

There are concerns to address. Not everyone is confident, competent or even interested in using digital platforms. So perhaps the headline should be…Richmond Council might be ready, but are residents?

Away from the office, as a regular citizen, my use of digital is pervasive. My personal communications, my file storage, how I access media, how I plan my journeys, holidays, social events, pay bills, etc etc. are all digital. I know I am ready. However, in my professional role I must retain the mix of digital and ‘analogue’, on line and off line, ‘cyber’ and ‘real world’.

An example from this very morning demonstrates this perfectly. Using several online platforms I co-promoted a volunteering event at Isleworth Promenade (St Margarets) – reaching out to local people and potential volunteers to come and help improve this stretch of the Thames riverside. The engagement (including me tweeting, Instagramming and writing about it in this blog) is all very well – but the personal interactions and ‘hands-on’ activity of the event itself, are irreplaceable by digital, on-line means of working.

We'll see what the future holds, but I think we an expect to see much more of the digital approaches (or perhaps not see, as the developments will be behind the scenes).

To sign off, I’d like to thank Colin at SWLEN, and Jason and Rebecca at The Thames Landscape Strategy for pulling together the two volunteer days. Anyone that’s interested in taking part in further activities can drop me a line (email please...no letters!).

John

Community Links : From dawn until dusk...

I had the pleasure of hosting two meetings this week, in my Village Areas. Two very different meetings, at the extreme ends of the working day.

On Tuesday morning I was up at dawn to meet with local business people from the Village area of Strawberry Hill, over eggs, bacon and coffee at the Golf Club. What's the Community Links Officer doing running business breakfasts you might ask? Well, once upon a time.. Back in  December '13 I ran a community meeting for residents in Strawberry Hill (SH for here on..apologies for the shorthand). One of the outcomes from that meeting was a desire from the community to see more support for local businesses, and to see them more involved with the SH community.

At the meeting we heard that there are thought to be over 100 small businesses working from home in SH. The Council's Economic Development Team is keen to support the development of business networks across the borough. Building this on to my interest in seeing how all local people could do their community bit, I see this as an excellent fit for Community Links.

I was really pleased to welcome 14 businesses to the meeting, on top of which I also received keen apologies from a further six. Everyone I spoke with was grateful for the opportunity to come along and introduce themselves, and were keen to see what happens next... Of course what happens next is up to those that are involved in the group, but my colleagues Susan and Sean and I will be on hand to support them realise their ambitions.

During more regular hours, Lynette attended a 'Dementia Friends' Information Session at Twickenham Library.  Here's what she had to say about it:

"I would really recommend everybody taking part in this free short session (approx. 1:30hrs).  It was so informative and really made you think what it is like to have dementia, and how this can affect your daily activities.  It is a cleverly put together interactive session that offers tips and ideas on how you can interact with people who suffer from this horrendous disease, who you may meet when you are out and about.  I came away with more insight and a much clearer understanding of how I can help make these people's lives just that little bit easier, and feel more confident in carrying on with public life.  My pledge is to spread the word about this truly wonderful training throughout the communities of Richmond."

This short video tells you all about it:

Later in the week I hosted an evening community meeting in St Margaret's, which brings together quite a mix of local people who all seem to have one thing in common - they care passionately about St Margaret's. There is a growing challenge though - acknowledged by some of the regular attenders as well as myself, and that is that each meeting feels like a 'first meeting'. New ideas and new faces are very welcome, but it also means there isn't a sense of progress. The 'original' members were unable to pursue their original project idea, but have agreed to look at others. I'm happy to continue to work with this, but I fear that good will and passion will soon begin to run low if there aren't some tangible projects to get stuck in to. 

What we need in this group is someone who is willing to take on the role of 'lead'. Perhaps, somewhat ironically, this is currently falling to me.. But it cannot be me as I am neither local, nor is it a long term solution! I am looking forward to carrying out the main action of this meeting though...organise a 'green walkabout' of St Margaret's, for local residents to point out opportunities they have seen that have potential for 'greening up' either through a flower bed, patch of grass or a hanging basket.

Until next time!