Young offenders ask – what causes young offending?

I’ve come across this lovely little research project from the Violence Research Group at Cardiff University. Basically, academics investigating youth crime involved some of the young offenders themselves, getting them interviewing the academics who study the phenomenon and film it. I’ll let them explain. As far as we are aware, Read more…

Cameron: data standards to revitalise local politics

David Cameron is often accused of being full of hot air and lacking real policies.  All the more surprising that the majority of his speech to Conservative Councillors Association last week was devoted to the subject of data standards. He told the councillors that their councils should be publishing data Read more…

empowerment symposium – Part II

Friday morning was probably not the best time to present after a conference "networking evening".  The first session I saw involved Paul Hilder from AVAAZ.org, Sara Ashton from Amnesty, Thomas Noirfalisse from Oxfam and Juan Gonzalez-Mellizo from the European Commission.  All fine speakers with interesting things to say.  AVAAZ was Read more…

empowerment symposium – Part I

I went to barcamp and the online noise about it was deafening.  I went to the Social Media CoP Big Day out and the blogging about it was swift and detailed.  I went the 2006 International e-Participation & Local Democracy Symposium and the blogging was in depth, immediate, and analytical.  Read more…

TV Advertising: £millions; Facebook: priceless

You spend £1,000s on developing an advertising strategy, £100,000 on creating some TV ads, £1,000,000’s on advertising slots and some students from Poynton High create an homage on Facebook to "one of the greatest drama teacher’s" ever.  For FREE.  You can’t buy this type of marketing and that is why Read more…