IT Recycling Project
During the the coronavirus pandemic Lockdown, Network members fed back to us regarding the ‘Digital Divide’. People that members work with were being further excluded because they did not have the means to go online.
The pandemic changed the world : learning, leisure, information resources and support have mostly moved to the virtual world. Those who could not access it were left out.
With this in mind, the Network initially set up the IT Recycling Project in partnership with Gift Tech and Glasgow Clyde College. We asked members to raid their cupboards for old IT equipment which were wiped and installed with software by experts from the college. Members were able to refer people to receive this new recycled/refurbished equipment. Thanks to The National Lottery Community Fund, Yoker Campus, EE, Community Planning Partnership, our partners and members for all their support!
The project has since moved on and to date we have handed out over 350 recycled IT packages to families and individuals across North West Glasgow.
If any members, organisations, workplaces or educational establishments read this and want to help, please consider donating your old IT equipment. The PCs can easily we securely wiped and the PC/laptop be recycled and be of use to someone who needs it. This also makes sense for the environment as many pieces of equipment end up in landfill.
If you want to find out more about the project, to donate or refer contact martina.northwestglasgowvsn@outlook.com
Community Engagement
The Network had started a series of local engagement events in the community, at the request of Anderston/City/Yorkhill Community Planning Partnership at the end of 2019/20. We looked at developing new priorities for the partnership and to find out what local communities really thought about the area they lived and worked in. The pandemic meant this work stopped face-to-face. We are currently working on some online community engagement events for communities in the North West.
Community Planning Area Partnership Representatives
The networ
k is a conduit between the Community Planning Partnership in the North West of the City, supporting the Voluntary Sector Reps to fully participate in the Community Planning area partnership meetings.
We have have regular Rep meetings, and through the hard work of the reps and consistent lobbying from the network, we now have a voluntary sector standing agenda item at 7 out of the 8 ward Community Planning Partnership Meetings. A Network and Voluntary Sector report is submitted to these meetings and Network staff support Reps by collating the report and attending Area Partnership meetings with Reps.
Mentor Project Pilot 2018
There is a wealth of knowledge, experience and skill within the network, in recognition of this, we created a mentor project to provide an opportunity for members to receive or provide support for their member colleagues.
We recruited 5 members who felt they were able to reflect on their work and could support people to reach identified goals. We provided training and a set of paper work to help mentors provide appropriate support. We then recruited a group of 6 participants who had felt they could benefit from a mentor relationship. We matched up the mentors and participants supporting the relationships as they progressed.
Initial findings are very positive where participants have made great progress with most reaching their agreed goals. Mentors have also reported they have learned a lot from the experience, gaining skills that they will take into their wider work.
Participatory Budgeting: 3c Community Choices Canal 2018
The Network Manager was approached by Glasgow City Council to support the development of a citizen’s panel in Canal Ward, as part of a wider Participatory Budgeting initiative that will see £1 million allocated to 4 geographical areas and 1 community of interest, for citizens to make decisions about how a council budget is spent.
The network saw this a good opportunity to engage with more members in the North of the city as well as be part of this new council initiative. During Summer 2018, the network had a presence at local gala day and fun days in Canal ward meeting with local people to let them know about more about Participatory budgeting and how they could get involved. We also visited projects and worked with our existing members to make sure those people who don’t usually get the chance to be heard got the opportunity to get involved.
In total we engaged with 750 people and now have a panel of 14 people who will undertake training and lead the next stage of the process.