jump to navigation

Virtual Farmers Market - Join us on 29th May to Help Develep Bristol's NESTA Big Green Challenge Bid

May 19, 2008 Posted by Stephen Hilton in : Bristol, Innovation, Events, Environment, Green ICT, Food, Bids , 10 comments

NESTA Big Gren Challenge
VIRTUAL FARMERS MARKET PROPOSAL

The food we eat makes a significant contribution to climate change, accounting for 31% of our greenhouse gas emissions (EU 2007). If we are to stand a realistic chance of preventing runaway global warming, it is time to rethink our agricultural systems. This project seeks to go beyond the popular concept of “food miles” to consider the complete life-cycle of food – from field to plate. A sustainable local food system will address emissions by engaging the communities of the Bristol city-region, from the farmers and allotment associations, to the consumer, to local government, academics and community groups…

Open Collaboration Session

Date: 29th May
 Time: 2.30-5pm (followed by networking opportunity)
 Location: Connecting Bristol, First Floor, 11-19 Wine Street, Bristol BS1 2PH MAP

Purpose:

Bristol’s bid to create a Virtual Farmer’s Market (VFM) has won through to the next stage of the NESTA Big Green Challenge competition. Well done Matt Fortnam of University of Bristol for taking the proposal this far!

Read a PDF summary of the bid here - Virtual Farmers Market Sumary

The timescale is, of course, very short. A final bid must be made to NESTA by 9th June. We are working with local food consultants F3 and Ed Mitchell to further develop the bid and will be holding an open collaboration session on 29th May to achieve the following,

Registration

The Open Collaboration Session is an opportunity for anyone who is interested in this proposal to join-in. Please join us at this session. We welcome your input. Just confirm your attendance by registering HERE

We look forward to meeting you

Listen to this (mp3) Listen to this (mp3)

DC10plus Ready for Take-off with new Digital Inclusion Minister

April 28, 2008 Posted by Stephen Hilton in : Digital Challenge, Bristol, Events, Technology, Connecting Bristol, DC10 , 1 comment so far

Across England, DC10 partners are dusting-off their best business suits in readiness for the formal launch of the DC10plus network, which is taking place in London on Tuesday at the Third National Digital Inclusion conference… in a place called the Brewery (result!)

It is also apt that Matthew Taylor, Chief Executive of the RSA is chairing the event. It was Matthew, in his former Cabinet office role, who dreamt-up the idea of the Digital Challenge… from which the DC10plus is now born.

Amongst the all-star line-up of speakers are the new Digital Inclusion Minister, the Rt. Hon. Paul Murphy MP and the Minister for Schools, Jim Knight MP.

Our very own Stephen Dodson will be presenting the DC10’s vision and programme. Stephen is an excellent conference speaker and we are expecting great things from him. Emma Aqusita of Bristol’s Knowle West Media Centre has worked hard to create a dynamic afternoon workshop, which promises to be very hands-on.

Public-i will be webcasting the event. So if you are unable to attend, you will be able to see the key speeches on the DC10plus website. David Wilcox will also be acting as a raporteur during the conference and workshops, capturing less formal video interviews with speakers and delegates in order to find out what people really think about digital inclusion.

The Connecting Bristol Team will be there in strength, as both Kevin and I are attending. We also look forward to catching-up with some South West friends from COSMIC and Bristol Wireless.

The DC10 sees this event as the start of a conversation about Digital Inclusion. Please join the debate.

Listen to this (mp3) Listen to this (mp3)

Knowle West Media Centre

April 7, 2008 Posted by Makala Cheung in : Digital Challenge, e-democracy, Bristol, Community Media, Regeneration, South Bristol, Events, Mentoring, News, Learning, Skills, Environment, Connecting Bristol, Guest Bloggers , add a comment

I’m Press and Communications worker for the Knowle West Media Centre. We offer cutting edge media services and facilities from our new environmental building, and exciting hands on learning alongside professional practitioners. We are strongly embedded in the local community and run various groups for residents, especially young people.

My role involves doing press and marketing for KWMC, editor for the community newsletter, running parts of the community website http://www.knowlewest.co.uk (including the events pages), community communication both face-to-face with residents, clubs and organisations, facilitating Mouth of the South (more below) and taking part in community events, networks, and city-wide work for example I took part in Connecting Bristol’s bid to the Digital Challenge.

The new Knowle West Media Centre at Leinster Avenue will be holding its official 2 day opening event this week. Young people who work with Knowle West Media Centre will launch the two day programme of celebration on Thursday 10th April when they officially open the £2.6m green new HQ that they helped to plan, design and build. The opening ceremony will mark the successful end of a 5 year project to provide Knowle West with a beacon of creative and climate-friendly media enterprise, where young people can develop the technological skills demanded by the digital age.

Thursday 10th April 12pm-5pm
Official opening of KWMC by the Archimedia Core Group and KWMCC Director Carolyn Hassan from 12pm, this will be followed by building tours and displays of each departments work, as well as film screenings and projects and performances by young people and community groups.Then at 3.30pm Matthew Taylor, Chief Exec of the Royal Society of Arts, will speak about Young People, Media and Community.

Friday 11th April 2pm-5pm
Friday will see an opening of KWMC by local residents and Key Funders of the building, including Bristol City Council, South West Regional Development Agency and Arts Council SW. Again there will be film screenings, exhibitions, story telling sessions and tree planting.

To join us on this landmark occasion please RSVP to Katie Taylor at Katie@kwmc.org.uk by 7th April.
Please note children under 10 must be accompanied by an adult.

You will be able to find out more about us and meet some of the young people we work with. Examples of our groups include:

AMAZING ARCHIVE GROUP - A Young Roots Heritage Lottery Funded project for 12 – 25 year olds researching their heritage in and around Knowle West.
In June 2008 an exhibition will present the work of the group and invite the community to become involved in creating a ‘living’ archive for Knowle West.

KNOWLE WEST CARBON MAKEOVER- Knowle West Media Centre is working with 100 homes to be part of this exciting year-long environmental project. The project team will support the families in making changes to their homes and lifestyles looking at the different themes of climate change, for example, shopping locally.

DIGITAL FISH FILM CLUB - A young person-led club for 13-19 year olds, open to young people from Knowle West and South Bristol. They make short films and animations; as well as holding holiday film clubs, and workshops on acting, music recording, scriptwriting etc. The group’s work has won national awards and often run trips to screenings of our work all over the country.

SILVERSCREEN FILM CLUB - Over 50’s Film Club with regular screenings, host guest speakers, an extensive DVD library and cinema visits both in Bristol and further a field. Transport to events if required, and a selection of refreshments. It is open to all over 50’s from Knowle West and South Bristol.

MOUTH OF THE SOUTH - Our young journalists group is for 11-16 year olds and sessions include;
Newsletter - design, writing, interviewing and photography
Website: www.kwmc.org.uk/mos which includes radio and film projects

NLARGE PHOTOGRAPHY - Our photography group for 13-19 year olds is open to young people from Knowle West and South Bristol. The group follow an in depth and exciting programme learning all aspects of photography from a wide range of professional photographers. The Nlarge team take professional commissions and work towards becoming a sustainable enterprise led by young people.

To find out more about us go to http://www.kwmc.org.uk

Meanwhile, I have a workshop to prepare for - The newsletter drop-in club. The newsletter is nearing deadline, and residents will be meeting tonight, and I will be helping them in editing and designing all the new stories I received from residents and local workers over the last week.

So until tomorrow, everyone have a nice evening (whether the sun is shining or it’s snowing - who knows after yesterday’s weather), and if you happen to be reading this weeks Venue, there’s a double spread about us on page 24.

Makala x

Listen to this (mp3) Listen to this (mp3)

Digital Inclusion Wales

March 14, 2008 Posted by julzswitch in : e-society, Events, Technology, Guest Bloggers , 2 comments

Just back from a trip across the big bridge to the Digital Inclusion Wales Conference held at the All Nations Centre in Cardiff. I was asked to go along and present on the subject of ICT-based social enterprises, and found out that of the 180 registered delegates, 80 had opted for this workshop! Fortunately Simon Berry from RuralnetUk was also hosting a workshop on the subject so I didn’t have all 80 at once. Hopefully that’s an indication of the growth of interest in social enterprise as good business model for ICT services in future.

One of the benefits of sitting in on the conference was the opportunity to hear some truly inspirational stories from projects being supported in Wales by the www.communitiesatone.org programme. One in particular I found both moving and entertaining, and that was Sharron Morris from Rhys Radio - a woman with a mission and someone who recognised every inch of the way how much she has learned and how she has supported others!  Also Stephen Harmes from River Dee Community Church ICT Project - describing how engaging local people in a variety of ICT projects was helping to develop new activities and enterprise.  I am keen to share both projects with other people in my work in South West - excellent case studies to inspire other people.

And so my week as guest blogger draws to a close. Thank you Connecting Bristol for the opportunity. Hopefully some readers have found it useful, informative and encouraging. Good luck to Andy Martin with next week’s blog - I will look forward to reading about his work with Cancer Research UK.  You can keep on an eye on my work as Regional ICT Champion over on www.swict.wordpress.com and of course the day job which pays my wages over on www.cosmic.org.uk

Julie Harris, COSMIC

Listen to this (mp3) Listen to this (mp3)