Blog Action Day in Birmingham – a social media surgery for voluntary orgs.

Blog Action Day 2008 Poverty

Over here Jon Bounds has reminded us of our collective Birmingham blogger wish to mark Blog Action day next week in some shared way. When Tom Watson asked us about this a while back there was plenty of enthusiastic muttering.

The theme for blog action day 2008 is poverty, considered in it’s widest sense. So rather than simply blog, we’re arranging to do something more practical:  run a social media surgery for voluntary and community groups in Birmingham. Many of these deal directly with poverty in the city, I think all of them contribute in some way to creating life opportunities or alleviating suffering or disadvantage.

The aim is simply to get a group of volunteer social media savvy people together who can give one to one advice on which bits of the social media palette might be able to help these groups accomplish more.

Perhaps we might set up some blogs, get people using video or images in a new way, help them map problems?  Who knows? I’m quite certain everyone who takes part will learn something. (I’m wondering if this will help me imagine what a digital mentor might do.

Half an hour ago Candy Passmore at BVSC  agreed to provide a room at their place (138 Digbeth, B5 6DR, map). The proposal fits very closely with their attempts to encourage the voluntary sector to find new ways to communicate, lobby and network. The offer also comes with wifi and some food between 5.30 and 9  on the evening of Wednesday 15th October 2008. Once we’ve got something written she will also pass the invitation onto their networks within the city.

So who fancies helping and who knows any community or voluntary groups who might like to come?

Update: It’s on.
Birmingham Voluntary Services Council love the idea and are happy to help us with space at their place, tea coffee and perhaps a morsel for those who want to stave off their tea time pangs. time is 5.30 pm to 7.30 pm Wednesday 15th October 2008.

Sign up here: http://birminghamblogactionday2008.eventbrite.com/  any problems with that don’t give up – leave a comment below or call me on 0777 909 5692.  If you want to find out about this stuff we want you there!

21 comments

  1. Nick Booth says:

    Thanks rachel – we’ve barely begun organising it. I’m hoping that we will be able to get some orgs online and to give them a kick start in the social web, linking to them etc etc would be a great way to help.

  2. Dave Briggs says:

    Sounds like a fabby idea. Would love to be involved in Brum, though I might see if I can organise something similar with some vol orgs in the Northants area. Another option might be to do what Rachel’s doing and get involved via the ether.

    Hang on. How about we try and get as many of these things happening in as many locations as we can, and link ’em all up, so we all know what each other is up to and share problems and solutions?

    If it is a start, I’ve got socialmediasurgery.com…

  3. Paul Webster says:

    This is a great idea, I will see who and what I link into in the VCS in Birmingham… although you’re closer.
    Should be able to get some national coverage through NAVCA, but think it will be reporting what happened rather than promting before hand – however will be national publicity for Blog Action Day and the groups that get the help.

    See you next week!

    (PS, is Brumbloggers just Birmingham or can orgs in the Black Country … Worcestershire …. Coventry be involved)

Comments are closed.