From April 2013 local Healthwatch replaced the Local Involvement Networks (LINks) as the "consumer voice" in health and social care. It is important that local Healthwatch learns from the experience of the LINks to ensure they become the best they can be, and to prevent "reinventing the wheel". The results of a project to capture this learning are now available
Voluntary Sector North West
St. Thomas Centre
15 October 2012
Over 100 people attended this event. It was a really useful day with lots of discussion and ideas for every type of organisation. Please find below the presentation slides from the day.
Morning Case Studies
Blogging for Social Good - Steph Jennings, PodNosh
FC United of
Cloud Tools to Save Time & Effort - Paul Webster, Watford Gap
Afternoon Workshops
Facebook - Jane Binnion
Twitter - Helen Walker, VSNW
Measuring Social Media Impact - Steven Flower
During this workshop we took the case study of Salford Lads Club, with whom I have volunteered to help with their web presence over the past ten years. We took a tour of several tools and resources that can help measure social media impact, but also discussed less tangible impacts, in terms of how websites and social media are considered within organisations - and ways that can change. Finally, we looked at some of the practical help and support that organisations can get to better monitor their impact.
In summary, we found that the tools are not as important as a clear purpose for utilising social media within and across organisations and telling stories around our impact may be a powerful way forward.
Links:
Salford Lads Club
Web - http://salfordladsclub.org.uk/
Twitter - http://twitter.com/salfordladsclub
Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/salfordladsclub
Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/user/TheSalfordladsclub
Tools
Sparkwise - dedicated tool for non-profits - http://sparkwi.se/
Google Analytics - http://www.google.com/analytics/
Facebook Insights - http://www.facebook.com/help/336893449723054/
Klout - http://klout.com/home
Kred (suggestion from one participant): http://kred.com/
SocialMention - http://www.socialmention.com/
Resources
NTEN - http://www.nten.org/
TechSoup: http://home.techsoup.org/pages/default.aspx
Analysis Exchange - http://www.webanalyticsdemystified.com/ae/index.asp
Social Media Surgeries - http://socialmediasurgery.com/
Google Grants - http://www.google.co.uk/grants/
Social Media Surgeries
There are a number of these throughout the North West and there are new ones being added all the time. They are run by volunteers and are available to anyone from the voluntary & community sector who has questions about social media e.g. Facebook, Twitter, videos
To find your nearest surgery, please visit the Social Media Surgery website.
Regional Voices, of which VSNW is a partner, is pleased to announce that it has been awarded funding from the Department of Health (Innovation, Excellence and Strategic Development Fund) to support voluntary and community sector influence on health and wellbeing boards
The Department for Business Innovation & Skills has published the findings of a research study on European Social Fund delivery with the aim of informing thinking around the next round of programmes
Healthwatch England was formed in April 2013 and is the independent consumer champion for health and social care in England. They have now published a list of local Healthwatch, including those for the North West
The Local Government Chronicle held a webinar to explore the essential elements to ensure local healthwatch organisations are effective in scrutinising local health services and provide a voice for communities. Regional Voices, of which VSNW are a part, are mentioned.
An analysis has been published by NAVCA of the 74 areas that received Transforming Local Infrastructure and provides a national perspective, and allows the sharing of information and ideas
