Creating Thriving and Safe Communities: Leicester Libraries’ partnership work with Community News Agencies

1. Creating Thriving and Safe Communities:Leicester Libraries’ partnership work with Community News Agencies

2. Useful statistics: • Volunteers – over 90 volunteers involved since Nov 2008 • Hours – over 11,000 volunteer hours of added value to the service • 160 young people signed up to get involved with new media projects • 4 volunteers receiving paid work since volunteering Aspects of this work have been used for the following: • Best practice case study on cultural volunteering by CFE (Centre for Excellence), see attached • Best practice case study by Urban Forum for The Human Rights Commission about Duty to Involve (published Dec 09) • Filmed for possible inclusion on Channel 4 programme (transmission Nov 09)

3. The story so far… In partnership with Leicester Libraries Citizens’ Eye ran a free Community Media Course attended by 50 people from different organisations and representing different interests. Citizens’ Eye was established by volunteer Editor in Chief, John Coster in 2008. See www.citizenseye.org John is seen here with then Lord Mayor, Manjula Sood Participants on the Community Media Course at Central Lending Library

4. The story so far… After the success of the course Citizens’ Eye was hosted by Leicester Libraries in the Learning and Information Library in Bishop Street A partnership agreement was signed between Leicester Libraries and Citizens’ Eye to work on developing volunteer roles that would enable people to get involved in services, contribute to information delivery and develop new avenues of consultation. The partnership created the ‘Community Media Hub’ in the Learning and Information Library in Bishop Street to develop Citizens’ Eye. Simon Parker representing Leicester Libraries was appointed as board member of Citizens’ Eye. Here being interviewed by Radio Leicester about aspects of the project.

5. The story so far… The role of volunteer Citizen Reporter was created, to report on positive and constructive stories about Leicester and Leicestershire. The partnership between Citizens’ Eye and Leicester Libraries is currently working on establishing the volunteer role of Ward Reporter, to cover all council wards across the city. Citizens’ Eye is now accessible on Libraries home page

6. A few examples of stories covered… Skyride Back the Bid Special Olympics Leicester Pride March Older People’s Month Michael Jackson Event Refugee Week Shared Futures at New Walk Museum Britain’s Favourite Market

7. Some partners in the Citizens’ Eye Community Media Hub at the Learning and Information Library include…

8. Some partners in the Citizens’ Eye Community Media Hub at the Learning and Information Library include…

9. A few examples of how partnership with Citizens’ Eye helps to promote Libraries… Teen Read expo at DMU Adult Learners Week New Library at New Parks UK Online Centres The Book Bus Service

10. A few examples of how partnership with Citizens’ Eye helps to promote Libraries… The Book Doctor Writing Workshops Author Events Talks and Presentations Youth Panel for the New Library in New Parks Open Mic Poetry Workshop

11. A few examples of how partnership with Citizens’ Eye helps to promote Libraries… Visit by Paddy Ashdown Consultation Events Stocks, Services and Events

12. A few examples of the opportunities to promote other services, events, organisations and the themes of One Leicester… Ward Meetings Neighbourhood Policing NHS Teenlife Check Consultation about Youth Hub Youth Services

13. A few examples of the opportunities to promote other services, events, organisations and the themes of One Leicester… Tourist Information Children’s Services Museums Refugee Action Homeless Services Leicester Pride What’s On Peepul Centre

14. The establishment of Citizens’ Eye and the success of the community media training course led to 7 associated (online or newsletter based) news agencies run by volunteers who received community media training. These news agencies reflect groups and areas of interest that were felt to be either under –represented, misrepresented or marginalised by the mainstream media. These include: • The2- Young Persons News Agency • HAT News – for issues about asylum, immigration and refugees • Senior Eye – for issues about older people • Ino Mag – for offenders and ex-offenders who do not want to reoffend • Down Not Out – for issues about homelessness • DZine – for disability issues across Leicester and Leicestershire • Ewalin – for information about economic development in Africa

15. The2 Young Persons’ News Agency The2 began as a partnership between Citizens’ Eye and Wot Box Consultants to develop a news agency run by and for young people in Leicester. Wot Box is a consultancy working for the active participation of young people in Leicester. Given several options, The2 Young Persons’ News Agency decided to base themselves in Libraries as they offered accessible local venues for training, meetings, events and access to resources for the creation and distribution of information. These resources include Wot Boxes – boxes with reporting equipment such as cameras, voice recorders and camcorders. You can see The2 online at: www.the2.tv/ There are currently 160 young people signed up for The2 from all areas of the city. Members of The2 have been involved in numerous consultation events about young people in Leicester and have made numerous presentations.

16. The2 Meeting at Southfields The2 Meeting at Central Library The2 Designing a Wot Box A Wot Box of Media Equipment

17. Some examples involving members of The2… Using a Wot Box in New Parks Library Interviewing Ross Willmott Interviewing Sheila Lock Interviewing Sir Peter Soulsby, MP Reporting at the Special Olympics Reporting at Play Day 2009

18. Young reporters at the Apple store Members of The2 at the Investing in Leicester’s Children Conference The2 reporting on Panj Pani Radio Consultation events Reporting on the new library at New Parks

19. Interviewing author, Joshua Mowll at DMU Members of The2 on the Children’s Council Consultation and participation work

20. The latest exciting developmentfor The2 is ‘Wave’ the first newspaper by and for young people. The first edition will be published as a supplement in the Leicester Mercury in December. Wave editorial meeting at the Learning and Information Library. Reporters working on content atSouthfields Library. The2 with reporters from The Leicester Mercury The2 interviewing reportersfrom the Leicester Mercury

21. HAT News – HAT News (Here and There) covers asylum, refugee and migration issues and is recognised and used by the Home Office Press Office for its delivery of fair and balanced information. In partnership with Leicester Libraries HAT News offers volunteer opportunities for refugees and asylum seekers. HAT News, Citizens’ Eye and Leicester Libraries have recently been filmed by Channel 4 for a programme about volunteering. See www.hatnews.org Elisha Shamba, Editor of HAT News HAT News editorial meeting Library staff and Elisha promoting services and events in Refugee Week

22. The HAT News No Place Like Home Conference at Leicester University in partnership with the Department of Clinical Psychology, Citizens’ Eye and Leicester Libraries School children learning aboutasylum issues at Leicester University Young people reading from the diary of an asylum seeker

23. Senior Eye – is a newsletter reporting on older peoples issues. The second newsletter is currently being prepared. In partnership with Leicester LibrariesSenior Eye offer volunteering opportunities to report about older people on Citizens’ Eye. Senior Eye is edited by Vicki Buchanan and Nancy Bennett who attended the community media course. Senior Eye editors, Nancy and Vicky meet the Lord Mayor The Launch of Senior Eye Editors working on copyat the Learning and Information Library Covering the launch of Older Person’s Month Interviewing the manager of Age Concern coffee shop

24. Down not Out – Homelessness issues This is the latest news agency in development evolving out of partnership work done by Action Homeless, Citizens’ Eye and Leicester Libraries in creating a newsletter (Onwards and Upwards) by and for service users of Action Homeless. Down Not Out will be an online news agency for information by and for homeless people accessible free on library computers. In partnership with Leicester Libraries Down Not Out will offer volunteering opportunities for homeless people. Keith Hart has recently been appointed the editor of Down Not Out. Keith Hart, editor of Down Not Out Simon Parker of Leicester Libraries with Keith and Kenny, editor of Ewalin

25. Ino Mag – offenders who don’t want to re-offend Ino Magazine focuses on those who have been to prison but are choosing a life away from crime and offending behaviour. It showcases how individuals are achieving re-entry and contribution to the community ‘outside’ as well as covering work produced and experiences gained on the ‘inside’. It also covers issues of debate within the Criminal Justice System, and offers users links to and information about other charities, public sector services and organisations that ex-offenders may find useful in their rehabilitative efforts. Inside ‘n’ Out Magzine seeks to be an independent platform for those on both sides of prison walls to share experiences, with the ideal of providing better understanding between parties. The project also provides ex-offenders with volunteering opportunities during which they can add to their skills and experience in the workplace, as a first step towards the rehabilitative pathway of gaining employment.

26. DZine – Disability newsletter Dzine News Agency is based at Citizens’ Eye, with the aim to provide the latest news and features on disability issues in Leicester and Leicestershire. It is edited by Jackie Perkins and evolved out of work done on deafZINE The Dzine News Agency have created their first newsletter which can be viewed online at:- http://issuu.com/dzine/docs/dzine_2009

27. Ewalin – Economic development in Africa See www.ewalin.org In partnership with Leicester Libraries offers volunteering opportunities to those living in Leicester who are interested in the economic development of Africa. Kenneth Mawomo, volunteer editor of Ewalin

28. Panj Pani Radio Citizens’ Eye and Leicester Libraries have been working in partnership with Panj Pani Radio managed by Sukhdev Singh Aujla. Panj Pani Radio was established in partnership with the NHS trust and operates out of a studio at The Towers Hospital. It broadcasts on the internet See www.panjpani.org and sometimes on FM radio. Some programmes are simulcasts with EAVA FM. It presents information and shows about mental health and general health issues to communities across Leicester, along with other community driven programmes. John Coster presents a weekly community news show with regular guest from the library service, Simon Parker. The programme covers news and information about the various news agencies and groups and organisations doing positive work in the community. It also offers a platform to publicise LCC services and events. Elisha Shamba presents a weekly HAT News show and with Kenneth Mawomo presents a Zimbabwean News show. Members of The2 Young Persons News Agency have also contributed.

29. Sukhdev of Panj Pani Radio John Coster presents the community news NHS Chief executive interviewed on Citizens’ Eye Community News Councillor Russell on the Citizens’ Eye Community News show Elisha presenting the HAT News Show The Zimbabwean News Show

30. The latest development is partnership work to develop volunteer broadcasters from across Leicester through a Confidence in Broadcasting Course. Some library staff have already been attending the course to promote Library and other LCC services and events. The Book Doctor, Simon Parker and Damien Walter of the Literature Network promoting reading, writing, services and events. Steve Beverley of Leicester Libraries on the Confidence in Broadcasting Course.