Sideways Look at ‘Big Society’ »
The whole way we think of public services and the part they play in making neighbourhoods may need to change. The challenge, identified in Chamberlain Forum’s Looking Sideways report on neighbourhood coproduction, is to look beyond the management of individual public services and instead at how they work together, and with communities, to create more, or less, good places to live. As the local State shrinks, the only way it can gain influence is by working better with communities. Government calls this idea ‘Big Society’. It requires better use of local assets and the local State to work with the grain of community interest. This is coproduction. It is the new Municipalism.
Common Ground for City Cultures »
Some see it as a classroom or a refuge; to others it’s the gym or a hospital… or their church. People tell Birmingham park-keeper Fred Tematema that their local park serves a multitude of purposes. Their use and role make parks and open spaces places where ‘Big Society’ is put to the test.
Learning from Stories – SDM workshops »
Two Workshops to find out more on Friday 16th July at the Bond, Fazeley Street, Birmingham.
10.30-12.30pm and repeated at 1.30-4.30pm
It has been said that the shortest path between a human being and the truth…Is a story. Why is it that with all the money spent on collecting and displaying data relating to the success of [...]
Cultures of Birmingham…Manufacturing »
A Chamberlain Forum discussion led by Professor David Bailey, looking into how manufacturing has shaped life in the city. What has manufacturing made of Birmingham? What happens when we lose it? Do we want it back?
Cultures of Birmingham…..Open Spaces »
Chamberlain Forum discussion led by Dr Alison Millward looking into what parks and open spaces mean for life in the city. How do we use open spaces? Do they change the way we behave? Who should manage and look after them? Are they an extravagance or a necessity?
Residents Link to Learn in Newtown »
About 70 Birmingham Residents joined Resident University over the two days it spent at St George’s Community Hub in inner city Newtown. They included young people taking part in the Young Resident University who learned about using social media and film-making in carrying out research with the University.
News from Google
- Is Trident New Labour's shibboleth? - New Statesman (blog)
- Light shone on solar panel benefits - H&V News
- Private sector may take 14 years to return employment to pre-recession levels - PersonnelToday.com
- George Osborne faces benefit cuts backlash - The Guardian
- Prince Charles calls for more sustainable living during visit to Birmingham - The Birmingham Post
- Think-tank boss Robert Chote unveiled as head of spending watchdog OBR - Daily Mail
- Corsham think-tank meeting on health - This is Wiltshire.co.uk
- The BBC, Boris and the cuts - The Guardian (blog)
- 'Troops Out!' call from leading Tory think tank - First Post
- Immigration 'DID cost Labour votes at the election', says left-wing think-tank - Daily Mail
Photo Gallery
Cultures of Birmingham…..Open Spaces
Getting Heads Together on Co-Production
Localism must find it’s bedrock..if the adventure is to continue
What are Neighbourhoods For?
Regenerating Self Help
