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Wednesday Feb 17, 2010
Is the web changing the way we give?
I've summarised my thoughts so far on thinking about how the concept of the gift economy can help us understand giving activities, such as volunteering and participation, in the context of the social web. I've done this ahead of the Volunteering Counts Conference March 1st-2nd in Manchester organised by the Institute of Volunteering Research where I'll be presenting.Abstract
The rise of social media and digital networks is contributing to the return to prominence of the gift economy. As the web has enabled social networks and online communities to grow, so values such as sharing, openness and collaboration associated with the gift economy, are increasingly influencing the relationships and connections between us. From business strategies through to public policy, giving relationships are seen as offering credible and valuable contributions.This revolution in values offers volunteerism and other forms of giving such as participation, civic engagement and professional-amateurism, an opportunity to play an even greater role in a ever more networked Britain.
This article attempts to unpick the increasing number of connections between these different modes of giving, rendered both possible and visible by a more networked Britain and world beyond. Focusing our attention on how these different giving activities are interconnected, rather than separated, opens up a new way of understanding participation, professional-amateurism, civic engagement and volunteering.
The connecting thread between these activities played out on the social web, are the twin components of positive personal freedom and beneficial social impact. Understanding giving activities in terms of the intention behind the giving and extent to which they are driven by personal freedom and social impact, provides the basis for a new framework to understand how the web is changing the way we give today.
Two patterns of how these different giving activities are connected should be noted:
First, social media has meant giving activities can take place on a much bigger scale than before the digital revolution. There are a growing number of examples that point to how different modes of giving can scale. Added to this is the new visibility of giving activities increasingly mediated by the web, as more users take up social media. As givers share what they are doing with others, so it becomes increasingly possible to assess the range of giving activities taking place. This new sense of range and scale is what offers us a new opportunity to establish a framework that makes sense of how we give today.
Second, as giving activities are reconfigured across brand new networks of people and groups, the role of the state, institutions, corporations and organisations in promoting, sponsoring and facilitating giving activities is changing. Whether givers are participating, volunteering, engaging or “Pro-Am'ing” the increased scale and visibility of giving opportunities means more and more are taking place out of the direct control of the state, institutions, corporations and organisations, bodies that shaped the giving activities of the last century.
Full article
Posted by Patrick Daniels ( 9:10 AM ) Link to this post Comments[0]
Thursday Feb 04, 2010
Respect? wants to get bigger and even better!
On the day that the Government publishes its response to the Youth Citizenship Commission, it's fitting that YouthNet and the British Youth Council are jointly launching a recruitment drive for their award-winning Respect? campaign.
The Respect? campaign was launched in 2006 with the support of Dawn Butler MP, the recently appointed Minister for Young Citizens and Youth Engagement, who is now at the helm of this initiative to get more young people engaged in campaigning, volunteering and influencing decisions that affect them. Today, she called for young people to "use their voice to tell us what they want", which is exactly what Respect? is all about.
Led by a group of 16 to 25-year-olds, the Respect? campaign encourages young people to speak up when they feel they are unfairly represented in the media, because if we all shout together and loud enough, we can challenge negative stereotyping of young people. Respect? research tells us that 98% of young people feel the media always, often or sometimes represents them as anti-social - which definitely isn't a true reflection of the UK's young population!
Directgov has launched new 'Join in' youth citizenship portal today, which is a great way to help young people access the information they need to get started and get involved. Respect? has done the same on TheSite.org/respect, where there are articles about how to contact the media and how to give a successful interview. Respect? believes that young people have an unprecedented advantage with the internet, and that by using new media tools we can really make a difference.
Having got this far with Respect?, we're now looking for new members to join the Respect? Young People's Advisory Group and push the campaign further. We want to make sure young people from across the UK are represented, so if you've got big ideas, and you're interested in getting involved in a campaign that's really making a difference, visit the Respect? campaign pages and download an application form. Join us!
I wasn't at YouthNet four years ago when Dawn first met the group, but I find it incredibly exciting that the campaign has gone from strength to strength since that day, and that that we're still working together to achieve our aims - it's truly inspiring.
Gabriella Jozwiak
Posted by Catherine Skakle ( 5:45 PM ) Link to this post Comments[0]
Wednesday Feb 03, 2010
YouthNet launches new creative competition
Statistics released last week say that the UK's out of the recession – because in the fourth quarter of 2009, the economy grew by 0.1%. I'm no financial expert, but that doesn't sound a huge amount to me, barely more than a margin of error. In one of the daily polls on TheSite.org, 45% of the respondents to the question 'Do you think we're out of the recession?' picked the answer 'No, things are still really hard'. Another 22% said 'No, I'm broke and jobless'. It seems that the recession – and its impact – is still a reality for the UK's young people.
Student debt, youth unemployment, and an uncertain financial future mean that young people are among the hardest hit by the 'credit crunch'. It seems fitting then, that TheSite.org, with support from Citi Foundation, has launched a creative competition to allow UK's 16 to 25 year-olds to tell their own stories.
We're asking young people to submit photos, films and comic strips which illustrate how the recession has affected them or the lessons which they feel should be learned. Entrants have the chance to be have their work critiqued by a great panel of judges, have their work exhibited at the awards ceremony and win up to £1000 to invest in their artistic futures.
So if you're a creative young person – or know people who are – please check out the competition website or follow the updates on Twitter. If you'd like some postcards or printable posters to display at your college, university or organisation to help spread the word, please email us on marketing-AT-youthnet-DOT-org.
Can't wait to see the entries start coming in!
