[CMA] CMA AGM 2006 - Online Policy Discussions
Richard Lace
richard at prescap.co.uk
Thu Nov 16 13:05:48 GMT 2006
In the midst of writing one set of evaluation reports for current funders at the same time as yet another set of bids to keep us going, my mind is tuned in to this topic at the moment - so a few thoughts below.
First thing - there are loads of targets. From local strategic plans and LAAs through to national initiatives (ECM and Youth Matters, Fit For Growth, the dreaded "Respect Agenda" - there are hundreds). The first hurdle is having enough of an idea of what the targets are to be able to show where the work we do can help meet them.
Second thing - to be taken seriously, from my experience in any case, we have to show that we can either do things that others can't, or do things cheaper than others can.
The first of those (doing it better) is easier to show - for example, we all know that the training we offer is great at engaging people who aren't particularly connected with more formal education, and helps give them a step up towards further training / employment. We've tried that recently with our local Youth Offending Team, not wholly successfully - but the experience has taught us and them a lot and will hopefully lead to some more (paid for) work in the next few months. And rather than sign up to employment-related outputs (we get paid if our trainees get a job afterwards), we've tried to show how Skills For Life is embedded in our training, and how we can help deliver that to those that can't or won't get it from other sources. (Working in a community arts organisation, we're using the Youth Justice Board / Arts Council materials (like this one: http://publications.basic-skills.co.uk/cgi-bin/bsa/A2050.html) which are a great starting point at linking what we do into the Key Skills curriculum.)
The second (doing it cheaper) is more difficult. The key is defining the value - in pounds and pence - of what we can deliver. There's not much research out there (at least not that I've been able to find) - but there is a bit that can help our case. Try this for starters: http://www.dfes.gov.uk/research/data/uploadfiles/RR346.pdf - the essence is that it costs "the state" around £100,000 more to support, over the course of their lifetime, each person who is not in education, training or employment at age 16-18. If we can help engage one of these young people, and it costs £1,000, then that's a big saving. We may not agree with the approach, but it's the way the treasury work (http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/economic_data_and_tools/greenbook/data_greenbook_index.cfm) and a little hoop jumping is, as we all know, often necessary.
Would be interested to hear other people's thoughts but, for now, it's back to the reports for me.
All the best
Richard
Richard Lace
Community Radio Project Manager, Preston FM
Prescap Ltd
110 Church St
Preston
PR1 3BS
T: 01772 880791
F: 01772 561186
M: 07918 195898
E: richard at prescap.co.uk
W: www.preston.fm
Prescap provides a platform and catalyst enabling people to explore, realise and value their full potential through creativity.
-----Original Message-----
From: cma-l-bounces at commedia.org.uk [mailto:cma-l-bounces at commedia.org.uk] On Behalf Of Phil Korbel
Sent: 16 November 2006 10:06
To: cma-l at commedia.org.uk
Subject: RE: [CMA] CMA AGM 2006 - Online Policy Discussions
Ta Jan
I'm sure that many CM-lister's will agree - there's nothing like a politician actaully walking in to our station/project for them to actually suss the true potential of what we're up to. So folks - grab any opportunity and don't be shy of asking tough questions - the good politicians are actaully gald of a debate.
and 'mr/mrs/ms servenet' whoever you are... all good stuff about the liberating potential for community internet - and a big thumbs up for international links too. Our manager at WFM - Christine Brennan has just got back from Tiblisi where she was helping some Gerorgian CR stations and the response was ecstatic.
But - back to the point of the policy debate - what evidence of achieving mainstream service targets do we have and how can we best bring them to the attention of Big Gordon?
bests,
Phil
Subject: RE: [CMA] CMA AGM 2006 - Online Policy Discussions
Date sent: Thu, 16 Nov 2006 07:25:30 -0000
From: "Whyatt, Jan" <J.M.Whyatt at city.ac.uk>
To: "Phil Korbel" <phil at radioregen.org>,
"Alan Fransman" <alan.fransman at commedia.org.uk>
Copies to: <cma-l at commedia.org.uk>
> I think Phil Korbel's ideas are great. And I'd like to add a plea to
> get more politicians into community media studios for live interviews.
> They don't have to be boring!! Jan j.m.whyatt at city.ac.uk
>
> ________________________________
>
> From: cma-l-bounces at commedia.org.uk on behalf of Phil Korbel
> Sent: Wed 15/11/2006 16:55
> To: Alan Fransman
> Cc: cma-l at commedia.org.uk
> Subject: Re: [CMA] CMA AGM 2006 - Online Policy Discussions
>
>
>
> Well Alan, don't we just walk up to Gordon Brown and say 'More
> please'?
>
> This question actually strikes to the heart of community media...
>
> WE know it's a fantastic thing, that it changes lives and communities
> for the better and that making and broadcasting media should be a
> right shared by all
>
> THEY think it's a 'good thing' but mainly don't know why... As I
> recall, one of the MP's involved in the debate on the community radio
> legislation referred to it being 'like motherhood and apple pie' -
> universally applauded. But - there's a huge gap between favour and
> funding - and bridging that gap is the task ahead.
>
> The focus on the CSR is vital - even if Tessa Jowell isn't allowed to
> increase the £ ½M p.a. for community radio - anything that gets us
> onto the Treasury radar is priceless.
>
> Against us:
> everyone is doing the same
> we don't have a well paid team of lobbyists the actual consultation
> process is closed we don't enjoy big public profile
>
> For us:
> We are new
> We're grassroots
> We don't make a profit
> We DO deliver against Gordon's targets for public service delivery -
> big time! the Welsh Assembly has given 500k just for the Welsh
> stations, which might be seen as a tad embarassing for DCMS's UK-wide
> pot. The recent Local Govt White Paper is chock full of talk of
> community engagement
>
> So - how to maximise the strengths and diminish the weaknesses is the
> subject that we need to chew over. We will hardly ever get funding
> for being community media - we will get it for delivering to existing
> mainstream criteria. So we need to build our body of evidence of
> delivery of targets such as 'community engagement', 'tackling anti-
> social behaviour', 'increasing educational attainment', 'promoting
> well-being', 'developing social enterprise' and creating 'community
> cohesion'. Then we need to think of a way of packaging such
> information.
>
> If I might borrow an idea from the man-of-many-hued-jumpers - Forest
> of Dean's Roger Dury - one thing that will capture people's
> imagination is a 'Community Media Day' where all practitioners agree
> to simulcast examples of the ways in which they benefit their
> communities (i.e. hit Gordon's targets). These are then captured on
> disc and MP3 and together with a huge petition delivered to No.11 or
> No.10 depending where Mr Brown is dwelling by the time it's ready.
>
> These are some 'starters for ten' - and in order to gauge whether it
> has any chance of success [and for me to be able to report something
> at the CMA AGM] we need you to respond. So tell me what you think and
> give me examples of hitting Gordon's targets....
>
> Hear from you soon,
>
> Bests,
>
> Phil
>
>
> Date sent: Wed, 15 Nov 2006 10:04:46 +0000
> From: Alan Fransman <alan.fransman at commedia.org.uk>
> To: cma-l at commedia.org.uk Subject:
> [CMA] CMA AGM 2006 - Online Policy Discussions
>
> > CMA AGM 2006 - Online Policy Discussions
> >
> > The Community Media Association is hosting a series of four online
> > policy discussions in advance of the CMA AGM on 25 November 2006.
> > The results of each online discussion will be presented at the AGM
> > and will include members' recommendations on the CMA's strategy in
> > taking forward the sector's policy campaigns over the next year.
> >
> > The online discussions will cover the following themes:
> > 1. The Government's Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR) in 2007 2.
> > Ofcom's review of the Community Radio sector 3. The sector's
> > campaign for Digital Community Television Licences 4. Developing the
> > CMA - BBC Partnership
> >
> > Today Phil Korbel from Radio Regen starts off the series with a
> > discussion about strategies for influencing the Government's
> > Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR) in 2007. The review will set
> > departmental spending plans and priorities for the years 2008-09,
> > 2009-10 and 2010-11.
> >
> > Government has already started to lay the groundwork for the CSR and
> > a series of detailed reviews on specific cross-cutting issues are
> > underway. This includes the recent 'Review of the Future Role of the
> > Third Sector in Social and Economic Regeneration.' The Third Sector
> > review aims to define the future role of the third sector in social
> > and economic regeneration within the context of the long term
> > challenges that our society faces.
> >
> > Further information about the Government's Comprehensive Spending
> > Review (CSR) in 2007 is available on this link:
> > http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/spending_review/spend_csr07/spend_csr0
> > 7_ index.cfm
> >
> > Further information about the Review of the Future Role of the Third
> > Sector is available on this link:
> > http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/documents/public_spending_and_services
> > /t hird_sector/pss_thirdsector_policyreview.cfm
> >
> > Over to you Phil...
> >
> > --
> > Book now for the Community Media sector's premier event!
> > http://www.commedia.org.uk/festival2006
> >
> > CMA Festival & AGM 2006
> > 25 November 2006
> > City University
> > London
> >
> >
> > Alan Fransman
> > Community Media Association
> > 15 Paternoster Row
> > Sheffield
> > S1 2BX
> >
> > +44 114 279 5219
> >
> > www.commedia.org.uk
> >
> > Access to the media for people and communities
> > _______________________________________________
> > cma-l mailing list
> > cma-l at commedia.org.uk
> > http://mailman-new.greennet.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/cma-l
> > Mailing List Guidelines:
> > http://www.commedia.org.uk/lists/guidelines.htm
>
>
> --
> Radio Regen
> 12 Hilton St
> Manchester
> M1 1JF
> U.K.
>
> www.radioregen.org & www.communityradiotoolkit.net (beta site)
>
> skype: philkorbel
>
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--
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www.radioregen.org & www.communityradiotoolkit.net (beta site)
skype: philkorbel
This e-mail is intended solely for the addressee, is strictly confidential and may also be legally privileged. If an addressing or transmission error has misdirected this e-mail please notify the author by reply.
If you are not the intended recipient you must not use, disclose, distribute, copy, print or reply on this e-mail.
If your company has an anti-virus policy it is recommended that all text and documents contained/attached to this e-mail are checked for virus'.
Radio Regen does not accept any liability for damage or disruption due to virus attack from transmitted text or data.
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