YouthNet blog
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Friday Aug 22, 2008
Do-It day
The TUC have launched a new campaign to have a new bank holiday, and suggested that rather than it just being an excuse to get horribly drunk and regret it the next day; this day should be a Community Day where people would be encouarged to spend a day volunteering and doing something different.
Knowing most of the volunteers that I do, they'd be automatically volunteering on that day anyway (be it formally or just spending an extra day doing paperwork and all that other hidden volunteering that goes on). What we need it a way of encouraging new people to take up volunteering, to "do it" if you will.... perhaps having a really easy website where you could sign up to one million volunteering opportunities.
Therefore, and perhaps this is a bit cheeky---but it is the Friday before a Bank Holiday---I'd like to propose that it's not named Community Day, but Do-It Day.
Oh, and we've already got the website to support it: do-it.org.uk.
Posted by Olly Benson ( 2:03 PM ) Link to this post Comments[0]
Wednesday Aug 20, 2008
Changing TheSite.org
Alongside our regular day-to-day stuff is another stream of work looking at how we change TheSite.org. There are various levels of work going on; including a fairly quick but quite major sprucing up of the look of the site, which you should see the results of in the next month or so. Beyond that there is a much deeper, bigger and more wide-ranging discussion about how we change TheSite.org.So we've been running a blog for the last month at changethesite.org which hopefully will promote discussion both internally and externally about what we want to do with TheSite.org.
I'm glad to say that DK from MediaSnackers is the first of a number of external contributors we've asked to be involved. You can read his answers, plus some other thoughts and stuff at changethesite.org. And you'll find more information, plus ways to contribute, at the end of the blog!
Happy reading....
Olly Posted by Olly Benson ( 9:48 AM ) Link to this post Comments[0]
Tuesday Aug 19, 2008
What's love got to do with it?
My other half has agreed to 'run' the first ever Royal Parks Half Marathon with me in October in a bid to raise some money for YouthNet.
Now neither of us is especially athletic nor have we ever committed to anything like this before, so it will certainly be a challenge for both of us. But hey we've been together a very long time so it will be a new learning experience, something we can do together and a great way for us to spend time together over these summer months. That's what I thought before we started anyhow!
In fact there are a few things I haven't mentioned, to begin with he is much taller and fitter than I am this means naturally his stride is far greater making him much faster, so for him to jog slowly is for me to sprint. This is a problem because he is always ahead of me, so whilst I try to play catch up (so that we can begin spending that time together bit I talked about earlier) my confidence is being kicked away by the backs of his heels. Note this is the first obstacle.
Secondly motivation was always going to be a challenge with this kind of thing, and believe me when it is hard enough to motivate yourself to go for a run the last thing you want to do is have to inspire your 'training buddy' to accompany you, particularly one that leaves you lagging behind!
Finally this running malarkey seems to be taking more time up than I had hoped (maybe because my miles are quite slow) so its fairly difficult to fit a 'run' in let alone fit it in both our diaries at the same time.
Despite all this we have now actually been training together for over a week (yes I am sticking to a sort of plan since my last blog) and I'm beginning to realise that maybe love has a lot to do with it. We need to be devoted to the plan if we are ever going to finish the course, we need to compromise with one another if we want to do it together, if we want to avoid any injuries we are going to have to start caring better for our bodies and finally on the day its going to be one another that will get us through to the finish line.
(Ahhh that was a very syrupy blog wasn't it, don't get me wrong next time we are out 'running' together I will be humming in my head 'here I go again on my own' grrrr)
Posted by Felicity Jones ( 1:56 PM ) Link to this post Comments[0]
Friday Aug 01, 2008
There is not just a first time for everything
This is the first time I have ever written a blog and I feel quite anxious about the whole experience, what if I'm judged on my poor grammar and shoddy spelling? What if what I write doesn't make sense? But actually that is the least of my worries as this is also the first time I have ever 'run' a Half Marathon and that holds many more questions for me!
Despite all these concerns you'll be impressed to hear that I started training for this half marathon about two months ago now, you'll be less impressed to know though that I have now 'started' training at least four times in the last two months. So far the pattern has been to start training and go for regular runs for one week, then take two weeks off. That suits me quite well. But now as the big cloud that surrounds the month of October (which is when the run takes place) gets ever closer I realise I simply have to stop starting to train and just get on with it and train.
This sounds fairly easy but its not, motivation is very low, the weather has been very hot and it's simply too hard to inspire myself to go for a run when Eastenders is on. Yes enthusiasm is that low!
Alas I'm going to give this starting to train malarkey one more go, I'm officially going to start training next Monday and for real this time, that's it I've said it on a blog so it must be true! So here is to a weekend of over indulgence and relaxation before the training really starts. Wish me luck, I'm going to need it!
Posted by Felicity Jones ( 9:11 AM ) Link to this post Comments[0]We know where's it's at...
According to the Financial Times, Old Street has become the new centre of the new generation of web start-ups. From last.fm to the offices of new favourite (and burglar's paradise) dopplr; everyone who is anyone is based around what is being dubbed as the Silicon Roundabout.
And where are we based? Feathertstone Street, about a minute from Old Street tube station.
