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Thursday Aug 24, 2006
Sponsored wanking
If you work for a charity, what's the most risqué fundraising activity they've been involved with? A cheeky viral? A provocative poster?
How about being the beneficiary of a masturbate-a-thon? Think that would go down well with the trustees?
Marie Stopes were brave enough to take it on.
"As a global family planning agency, at its core Marie Stopes International is concerned with promoting the individual's right to enjoy sex safely and, should they choose, without the risk of conception," said Marie Stopes International's Tony Kerridge.
"In our work all over the world, every day we see the consequences of fertile orgasms, in the form of unplanned pregnancies, unsafe abortions, sexually transmitted infections and HIV/AIDS. So it is absolutely right that we associate ourselves with this initiative to promote this risk and consequence free method of sexual expression."
Who could argue with that? Well, Maddy Coy from Eaves Housing for Women, for one. In Third Sector she argues that "events such as this don't exist in isolation, but are part of an exploitative sex industry" and, "jerking off for money is akin to prostitution."
I'm surprised that there hasn't been more media coverage of this, with such rich pickings of titillation and mock outrage. Perhaps there'll be more when the event airs on Channel 4 next month as part of (ahem) Wank Week. Although, if the account of the event in The Observer is accurate I don't think I'll be setting my video.
The participants, who had to be over 18, were almost exclusively male, and included gay men, transvestites with body piercings, an artist's model and a porn actress hired by the Daily Sport. They waited patiently on a cramped staircase before being invited up to a photographic studio which had been decorated with Moroccan-style lanterns and cushions, red and gold drapes, ornate mirrors and erotic pictures and statuettes. Lubricants and pornographic magazines were provided, as were bottles of water, boxes of Capri-Sun and packets of Cadburys shortcake biscuits.
Posted by Tom Green ( 3:51 PM ) Link to this post Comments[1]
Tuesday Aug 22, 2006
How to convert virtual donations into hard cash
I just picked up a really interesting article in OnPhilanthropy about a fantastically innovative fundraising idea. A few of the larger charities in the USA have successfully tapped into the virtual world of Second Life, a virtual community created by Linden Labs that now has over 200,000 members.
In July, the American Cancer Society raised over $40,000 through a Second Life Relay for Life. Yes, that's right, virtual personas created by real people using Second Life took part in a virtual event, raising hard cash at the same time. The charity have also announced they are creating their own island on Second Life, including an interactive cancer information resource centre and a peer to peer support group venue.
This is a brilliant example of a charity engaging with a new audience – not only are they generating income, they are also spreading their message and offering information in a way that Second Lifers are very comfortable with.
So, who's up for creating a TheSite.org drop in centre on Second Life then?
Posted by Sam Thomas ( 12:48 PM ) Link to this post Comments[0]
When bad web design (almost) works
At first glance, MoneySavingExpert.com looks like a site created to demonstrate the "don'ts" of web design. Flashing graphics, scrolling text, a multitude of fonts and colours, tinted backgrounds – all that makes websites hard to use is here. The site is dotted with what seem to be cheap adverts and you can almost hear the rushing sound of spyware surging onto your hard-drive.
The truth is, however, that MoneySavingExpert.com is the leading personal finance site in the UK. The man behind it, Martin Lewis, (no, not Martyn Lewis) writes newspaper columns and hosts TV shows. More importantly, his site is excellent. Packed with concise and useful information and hosting a forum that is fizzing with helpful advice.
So why is the design of the site so bad? It might be that Mr Lewis and his web designer, Darren (scroll down), are still stuck in 1995. But could it be that the look and feel of the site is in fact, extremely sophisticated? Its obvious amateurism creates the impression of something created by an honest friend – no money wasted! The colours and graphics make it cheerful and upbeat – we can help you! And, when you look more closely, there are in fact no adverts and no spyware – you can trust us!
Or maybe it just shows that web design doesn't always matter quite as much as some people would have us believe. A million users a month say that MoneySavingExpert.com's content is what counts.
Posted by Tom Green ( 8:26 AM ) Link to this post Comments[0]
Friday Aug 18, 2006
Happy WAP-ping
Ever since mobile phone companies paid £22.5 billion for 3G networks in the UK people have been questioning whether mobile internet really was the next big thing.
Despite the companies' best efforts the results have been disappointing. Mobile internet page impressions averaged about 1.5 billion per month through 2005, but growth appears to have slowed. And, according to a survey (PDF file) earlier this year, only 11% of British mobile phone users have accessed mobile internet, compared with 28% worldwide.
The same research suggests that "One in three (33%) British mobile phone users want to surf the web on their mobile phones, but only if it is like the true Internet environment."
Well, they aren't going to get that. I had my first proper go on a WAP phone this week (I know, not exactly an early adopter) and it is very much text-based with only around 50 words fitting onto a screen.
Nonetheless, having previously been sceptical about mobile internet, I found myself converted. The connection was quick and, on a well-designed site, it's easy to browse. The BBC, having previously paid WAP little attention, seems to agree. Last night I saw them promoting their WAP sites on TV and, according to a recent report "page views [for BBC sites] for WAP usage are growing at 100% year on year", with the biggest increases coming from Africa.
YouthNet, too, will soon be publishing content on mobiles, partly because young people are more likely to have a phone than a computer.
The key factor determining future growth will probably be charges. Digital TV took off when Freeview was offered for nothing; broadband became widespread when prices began to fall dramatically. Will the mobile phone companies, saddled with their 3G debts, be able to offer users similar encouragement?
Posted by Tom Green ( 10:40 AM ) Link to this post Comments[0]
Thursday Aug 17, 2006
YouthNet Debasers Claim Fourth Place
This week saw YouthNet bow out of the Charity Softball League with a hard fought 5-5 draw against RNID.
The draw secured fourth place in the league - a great effort in our first season. The final challenge for the team is to turn up to the final and enjoy the free booze donated by the league sponsors, something I suspect we'll excel at.Here's the team after the final game...
Wednesday Aug 16, 2006
Opening doors to volunteering
A couple of pieces about volunteering that I spied in Third Sector today.
According to a guide recently produced by Volunteering England and Nacro, Involving Ex-offenders in Volunteering, we in the charity sector are generally not taking on volunteers with criminal records, regardless of the offence and the role.
We all recognise the value volunteering offers people from across society, and we're also aware of the risks inherent in involving new people in an organisation's activities, especially where there are direct links to clients. But it seems a shame to discourage folks who might well benefit from this experience, find a way to give back to their communities and develop their job options.
While we eventually pursued the equivalent of a CRB check in the staff recruitment for my former employer, a California-based affordable housing organisation, several of my colleagues who had offended years before were grateful for the opportunity to find meaningful work. And, they often did well; when from a similar community, they had an empathy for our tenants' challenges others did not always possess.
But then, we don't just volunteer to boost our CVs. According to a research project called "Doing One's Duty: A case study of volunteering in a deprived community", volunteers from poor backgrounds are more likely to do it to give something back. The study found that those who don't work because of disability, age or responsibilities at home are motivated by (non-monetary) philanthropy and to support their communities.
Posted by Kirsten Olson ( 11:34 AM ) Link to this post Comments[0]
Monday Aug 14, 2006
The darker quirkier side of the online world
Is there a tendency for the mainstream media to obscure the debate on the social impacts of the internet for young people with a tendency to focus on the darker quirkier side of the online world? Add China into the mix, already known as a source of quirky news items, and you have an irresistible blend for Western journalists looking for a story.
Channel Four recently broadcast a piece via More 4 by Poppy Sebag-Montefiore on how the internet is playing a part in young Chinese people expressing a 'new' nationalism. Sebag-Montefiore recently ran another story on Channel Four about the Chinese youth who are addicted to the internet. In an online chat Sebag-Montefiore defined addiction as:
"User: How would you Define Internet addiction. I spend 3-4 hours on the Internet a night 4 days per week. would you say that i am an addict?
Poppy Sebag-Montefiore: Well, the director of the new internet clinic defines it as someone who goes online for at least 4-5 hours a day on average over a year but I don't think that seems all that much personally but I know people who spend a lot more time than that and don't consider themselves addicted to the net."
Who's pigeon holing who here? The piece on 'internet addiction' actually referred to specific limited cases of online gaming addiction, in particular where a "World of Warcraft" gamer died after several days of continuous gaming.
These types of stories although genuinely worrying, can be unhelpful to the general debate on the internet. It tends to pander to the fears of those who have very little personal experience of online communities, and who necessarily find it harder to balance the negative against the positive aspects less frequently discussed by the mainstream offline media. When asked whether she'd tried any online games herself, even reporter Sebag-Montefiore had to admit in a webchat after her report was broadcast :
"No I never have. I have tried some console games before but I just wasn't very good at using them and I got quite bored after a few minutes but I do use the Internet for other things. I think I probably use it too much but when I was in China, working on this piece, I began to get a sense of what it's like to be part of an online community and it sounded quite exciting."
There's a clear public interest claim for readily publicising the health risks of the internet, but this interest also extends to publicising the health benefits that new online initiatives afford. Organisations like the Samaritans and Saneline have been able to support thousands of people in the UK through quick, efficient and confidential services made possible by the internet. Both organisations partner YouthNet in providing our online askTheSite service which allows users to put personal questions to qualified experts -just a part of an all too often overlooked bigger picture.
Here's hoping the 'mainstream media' start looking more at the 'mainstream internet' where their viewers are going to in increasingly mainstream numbers.
Wednesday Aug 09, 2006
Reasonable lunch expenses campaign success
Well, they listened to us! Volunteer-involving organisational and volunteers alike protested the DPW's advice to volunteers on benefits about not claiming lunch expenses. And, they've now annnounced their withdrawal of this guidance. Justin Davis-Smith, deputy chief executive of Volunteering England, said:
This is great news as it lifts a barrier to the two million volunteers on benefits who were affected by the guidance. We're delighted that the DWP has listened to the views of so many in the volunteering movement and reverted to its original position which supports the Government's aim of opening up access to volunteering to disadvantaged groups.
I would like to thank all the volunteer-involving organisations, volunteer centres and individual volunteers who supported our campaign and were prepared to speak out against these discriminatory new rules. The response we received from our members and their networks was overwhelmingly positive and shows how a coordinated effort can create very powerful results.
Very good news.
Posted by Kirsten Olson ( 8:48 AM ) Link to this post Comments[1]
Tuesday Aug 08, 2006
What's your e-type?
Researchers from University College London have classified the UK's households according to their access to technology, and are inviting people to see if they agree with their "e-type" or not on their site.
If this is an accurate way to profile the UK in terms of access to technology, it could prove to be a really useful tool to map the 'digital divide' here in the UK.
Here at YouthNet we're in "Group C: Becoming Engaged." Although not many of us live here in N1, the last comment on our profile is a bit worrying for an online charity:
"Their use of the Internet at work may be a practice that their employers may be keen to control or reduce."
Posted by Sam Thomas ( 3:21 PM ) Link to this post Comments[0]Pay as you Pollute
The BBC reports that the government are considering a “pay as you pollute” scheme to reduce waste production alongside plans to encourage more recycling.
This adds to the momentum that seems to be growing behind individual environmental responsibility, rather than purely business focussed campaigns. Other recent examples of schemes targeting individuals include Tesco announcing their Club Card incentives for not using bags, and Ken Livingstone’s plans to introduce a £25 congestion charge for gas guzzling vehicles to travel in the centre of London.
All this points to a slight change in focus – previously companies had borne the brunt of the pressure to act in an environmentally responsible way, but after a lack of commitment either way from the government (despite calls from businesses to introduce stricter targets for emissions), it feels like a two pronged attack is needed.
It’s always easy to point the finger at corporates for their poor record on environmental issues, but not everyone is so keen to look at what they do, as an individual, to reduce their impact on the environment. Hopefully these initiatives will go some way towards changing that.
Posted by Sam Thomas ( 12:27 PM ) Link to this post Comments[0]
Monday Aug 07, 2006
Join right to reasonable lunch expenses campaign
As mentioned previously in this blog, the Department of Work and Pensions has recently published a booklet for volunteers who receive benefits, which states that they can't claim lunch expenses as they're already receiving money for food. You're in paid work, you get your sandwich paid for; you're on benefits, no can do. This is conflict with previously published guidelines and doesn't sit well with a more inclusionary approach to volunteering the government is advocating.
As you can imagine, the volunteering sector is none too pleased with this news. Volunteering England is continuing with its campaign to withdraw this guidance, and has announced a Protest Week starting 14 August. What can you do as a volunteer or volunteer-involving organisation? Post your lunch receipt, along with a note, to the Secretary of State The Rt. Hon. John Hutton MP at the Department for Work and Pensions. More details.
Posted by Kirsten Olson ( 12:12 PM ) Link to this post Comments[0]
Thursday Aug 03, 2006
The power of groups
They're not very web 2.0 but email groups seem to be as popular as ever.
While the groovy people have migrated to social networking sites, the rest of the world finds that their inbox is still the easiest place to access information, comment and discussion. We all complain of getting spammed but when was the last time you actually bothered unsubscribing from a list? We'd rather have too much information that risk missing out.
As mentioned on this blog before, the volunteering managers group UKVPMs does a fantastic job at allowing people to share expertise and keep in touch. And the recent benefits/expenses controversy has shown the group able to act with a single voice on an issue of common concern.
This week YouthNet has felt what it's like to be the subject of postings by UKVPMs members. After receiving notice of the decision to introduce charges for Online Posters to YouthNet's do-it.org.uk volunteering website, several people posted about their concerns.
It's too early to say yet which way the discussions will go. YouthNet have posted an explanation for the new charges and so far no one has responded. What is clear, however, is that when there are active email groups (or blogs) few things escape the scrutiny of public debate.
Posted by Tom Green ( 2:41 PM ) Link to this post Comments[0]
Wednesday Aug 02, 2006
Boston's wi-fi in the hands of amateurs
The Mayor of Boston needs to take his tablets and have a lie down.
No doubt this will be the response from commercial internet providers when they hear that Mayor Menino has decided that the US east coast city should have blanket wi-fi – and that this wi-fi should be managed by a not-for-profit. Is he mad? Everyone knows that non-commercial companies haven't a clue and should stick to knitting yogurt for disabled pensioners.
More from the Mayor: "What this will do is give us citywide service at a reasonable cost. We're not turning it over to someone else. We'll be able to control our destiny. One outside corporation shouldn't have a monopoly over this technology." Go Mayor.
According to at least one analyst, the model being used in Boston could become a standard if it works. Up until now, other US cities have basically put their wireless strategies in the hands of commercial providers which will, naturally, focus on where the money is. This is what is also happening in the UK where wi-fi provider The Cloud is wifi-ing up the financial city of London – a place where people might be willing and able to fork out five to ten pounds an hour for wireless internet access. ""We are building according to demand in the marketplace," says The Cloud.
There has been a rather strange development locally though, right in YouthNet's backyard. Upper Street in Islington has been wifi-ed up by Islington Council and dubbed 'technology mile' (we can pick it up from inside our offices). It seems like the oddest place to put wifi; every second shop is a café or pub with free or charged wi-fi. Islington has dozens of council estates – why not throw the free wi-fi there instead?
Posted by Dom Waghorn ( 3:51 PM ) Link to this post Comments[0]Creating community contributions
With the growing number of people setting up online communities, especially with the current 2.0 dash, we often get asked at YouthNet, through our work on TheSite.org, for some advice on how to set up and manage community offerings.
As the community manager I've been considering this for quite a while, so I thought it might be worth outlining a few pointers to how I think you can achieve a positive community offering.
Think about why you are doing what you are doing
If you’re planning to set up a community, then make sure you know why. The reason behind your service is going to determine how you run it, whether it’s moderated before or after post, who you want to encourage to take part; everything basically.
Remember who makes a community
Websites are run by companies or charities, but communities are made of real people. You need to maintain a balance of control over what goes on in a community and respecting and understanding your members. Without them, you’ve got nothing, so make sure they can shape what happens.
You’re never perfect
In your community you won’t always be liked by your members, you won’t always be agreed with, and you won’t always get it right. You should be ready to listen to any complaints people might have, and you shouldn’t ever be too proud to say sorry.
Be honest and open
Getting people to look in on your community can be managed with advertising, with incentives, but getting people to stay is much harder. One thing that matters is that people feel they are in a place they can trust. By being open and honest and making sure any changes or developments involve your users then everyone remains part of a community, rather than simply an audience to target news and promotions at.
Posted by Jim Valentine ( 3:41 PM ) Link to this post Comments[0]