Paul Kenna, Development Worker for The MEB, an urban green space in Bordesley Green, tells Claire and Tippa from Resident University about how he and other local residents made the space usable again.
RU Listen In: Timebanking
A new timebank was set up in the Birmingham area of Ward End and Pelham in 2010, with the aim of getting more local people into long-term employment. Resident University wanted to find out more about the nuts and bolts of setting up a timebank in the current climate, so paid a visit to their offices in Ward End to find out more.
Time-banking in Ward EndCo-producing the Big Society – March 18th & 19th at The Bordesley Centre
Following on from the Be Birmingham Big Society Summit on Friday 18th March, Resident University will be continuing the discussion about how residents, community groups and public services co-produce the Big Society together.
Join Resident University on Friday Afternoon, 1.30 – 5.00pm for:
- Lord Nat Wei, government advisor for the Big Society, speaking about the part community groups play in making the Big Society, and how government can support them
- Sessions highlighting what residents are already doing in relations to community organising, Timebanking, Developing Community Hubs and Social Innovation
- Discussion of the future of N’hood Management in Birmingham
And join Resident University on Saturday 9.30 – 5.00pm for:
- Ed Mayo, sec-general of Co-operatives UK, and Cllr Rachel Hayward of Lambeth Council looking at the ‘Co-operative Council’ idea developed in Lambeth
- Sessions looking at the Localism Bill, N’hood Websites, Commissioning Community groups to deliver public services and a study visit to Balsall Heath
- A discussion on the role of faith communities in neighbourhood renewal and management
Further details about speakers and workshop leaders will be available soon. You can book and reserve a place by filling in the form below, or by emailing us on info@residentuniversity.net. Or, calling on 07795 448 462
You can also let us know if you would be interested in attending the Be Birmingham Big Society Summit, and we will ask them to contact you.
Good Practice & Quality Standards – 10th Nov (POSTPONED)
Wednesday 10th November
6.00-8.30pm at St Martins Church Centre, Bullring
This session will look at the importance of demonstrating good quality services through the adoption of recognised systems of monitoring and evaluation.
It will examine a variety of different systems which hopefully will help you see the importance of adopting one, and finding the package suitable for your organisation.
We hope that by the end of the session participants will have:
- An understanding of various quality assurance systems available
- The basic tools to introduce a system within an organisation
- An understanding of how these systems can improve performance and confidence
To book a place, please use the booking form below, email info@residentuniversity.net, or call 07795 448 462
Good Practice & Quality Standards ‘a sound basis for funding and services’ – 25th Nov
Thursday 25th November
6.00-8.30pm at St Martins Church Centre, Bullring
The voluntary & community sector is complex and diverse and is affected by changing demands both from funders and those in whose interests it works.
A significant amount of voluntary & community sector income comes either from government sources (local and national) or charitable trusts. This funding makes organisations more formally accountable and they are more likely to have to prove that their performance is of a high quality and to adopt more „business like? management.
Voluntary & community organisations themselves also want to show that they are working to high standards and want to know how they can demonstrate the quality and consistency of the services they provide. Also the people who use voluntary organisations? services also expect high standards and quality services.
This session will look at the importance of demonstrating good quality services through the adoption of recognised systems of monitoring and evaluation.
It will examine a variety of different systems which hopefully will help you see the importance of adopting one, and finding the package suitable for your organisation.
We hope that by the end of the session participants will have:
- An understanding of various quality assurance systems available
- The basic tools to introduce a system within an organisation
- An understanding of how these systems can improve performance and confidence
To book a place, please use the booking form below, email info@residentuniversity.net, or call 07795 448 462
From the Margins to the Mainstream – Lecture with Geoff Mulgan
Tuesday 19th October at St Martins in the Bullring
The world financial crisis and big cuts in public services make voluntary and community action more vital. Progress depends more clearly than ever on ’social entrepreneurs’ – including residents with ideas and determination to make things better in the neighbourhoods where they live and work. ‘Social Innovation’ in the words of Geoff Mulgan is ‘moving from the margins, to the mainstream’.
Geoff is the director of the Young Foundation, which describes itself as a ’social innovation centre’. Prior to joining the Young Foundation, her served as policy advisor to Prime Minister Tony Blair. He is joining Resident University members for a Chamberlain Forum lecture on Social Innovation in the Big Society. Who will be responsible for coming up with new ideas and how will they be tested out given that there will be much less State intervention and less public funding?
Join Geoff and Birmingham-based social innovators at the Resident University on 19th October 5.00-6.30pm at St Martins in the Bullring.
To book a place, use the form below, email info@residentuniversity.net, or call 07795 448 462
Asset Transfer Study Visit – 26th October
Tuesday 26th October 10.00am – 1.00pm, Norton Hall Children and Family Centre
A revolution in the way that community and neighbourhood buildings are owned and managed is taking place. Supported by funding from Advantage West Midlands, Birmingham City Council has tested the process for transferring assets – in the form of community buildings – into community ownership and control.
At the heart of the process, is an attempt to recognise and measure the value added by resident and community groups to local assets. Community assets aren’t just land and buildings, but people and social networks too.
A tool, ‘valuing worth’ has been developed, that translates the social capital of community groups into monetary value: pounds and pence. This enabled Birmingham City Council to transfer the pilot assets – on a long term lease – at a discount. Less than a normal market rate. Now, Birmingham City Council is looking at transferring more assets to community and voluntary groups.
Find out about the potential and pitfalls of asset transfer from other residents…Resident University is leading a study visit that will look into what has been learned so far, and what the future holds for asset transfer. The study visit will go to Norton Hall in Saltley, and Hutton Hall in Washwood Heath.
To book a place, please complete the form below, or contact us via email: info@residentuniversity.net, or call 07795 448 462
Chamberlain Forum
- Coproduction & the Core EconomyCoproduction is... ‘the process by which inputs used to produce a good or service are contributed by individuals who are not ‘in’ the same organisation’. This is the definition given by the leading expert in what economists call ‘common pool resources’ and 2009 Nobel economics laureate Elinor Ostrom. Ostrom made studies ... […]
- Birmingham City Council Cabinet CompositionAnnounced on 14 May 2012, this is the Cabinet that will form the Executive of the Council agreed by members of the Labour group of councillors. The chairs of District Committees will also serve as non-Cabinet members of the Executive. Following the elections on May 3, Labour will chair 7 ... […]
- Inner – Outer City Split in Birmingham Mayor VoteThe 'No' vote given to a Directly Elected Mayor in Birmingham on May 3 was reflected in most wards across the city. Only two - Ladywood and Edgbaston returned a majority of votes in favour. There were, however, significant differences across the city in terms of the percentage of voters ... […]
- Communities Managing Change EventCommunity hub organisations, neighbourhood forums, clubs, associations and voluntary groups that provide a focus for communities managing change are at the heart of the Chamberlain Forum conference Communities Managing Change at St George’s Community Hub, Great Hampton Row Newtown Birmingham B19 3JG on Friday 25 May 9.30-1.30pm The conference ... […]
- Green Deal Needs ‘Neighbourhood Gateways’Social enterprises and enterprising voluntary groups could play a vital role in delivering the government's Green Deal policy to help householders invest in energy efficiency. Work led by Localise West Midlands, iSE and a number of neighbourhood groups in Birmingham and funded by Local Energy Assessment Fund shows how these ... […]