Future of the Network

[Alastair Scott-McKinley]

Hi I would like to ask for your assistance.  I would like your feedback on the network and its future.   I am considering closing the youth work Northern Ireland network.  As you may know the network is hosted by ning and they charge a monthly fee (approximately £15). While not a lot, this does add up over the year.  The network was not set up to generate a revenue, nor has it ever done so. In addition the traffic to the site has seen a marked reduction the last 6 months.   Therefore I am considering closing it. I would appreciate your feedback.  Should we keep the network?, How can we increase use if we do keep it? And how do we pay the £180 it costs each year to run?  I will follow up in about 3 weeks time and let you know what feedback I receive and what we decide to do with the network. Many Thanks Alastair Network Creator

[Fergal Barr]

Alastair, I'm glad you opened up this conversation....as an administrator of this site I'm somewhat biased....I have always thought it was a great idea, think it contributes a lot and as far as I know there isn't another one around and thus even the opportunity to know what workers are coming through 'the ranks' (as I'm now entering the more elderly ranks of youth workers) is really useful and informative.

 

You're right in some of your points.....the use of the network has declined and costs is an element....in terms of costs I'm certain that most if not almost all didn't know the costs....as someone who has one of my own ning sites I can share this tension but I weigh this up against the benefits and still committed to hosting my own site...

 

However, it shouldn't be the case that one person carries the cost and if we were able to get 12 people to agree to pay £15 a year including us two then at least the cost wouldn't be an issue....or we could aim for 10 @ £18 a year....either way I think we could achieve this...alternatively we ask the network through the donation option to contribute a few quid each and this would cover costs so far and for a couple of years....

 

In terms of the use of the network, things have slowed but I think this site still has lots of potential....I don't know anywhere else where there are 700 workers at the touch of a button and maybe a few of us need to get together to look at how we can make it work better....I'm certainly interested in doing that and have more time now to do so....

 

I see a metaphor....just like my garden this site has grown and grown and will continue to grow but likewise if I don't manage it or tend to it then it won't be what I really want it to be.....

 

So I'm certainly for contributing to costs and committing to illuminating the network.....

 

I would really encourage other people to step forward to do the same.....

 

Fergal

[Lisa Sanders]

Just a though...perhaps a blog which is free would do somewhat the same...there might be some missing things, but i think with some inventiveness, you might be able to do much of the same with a blog site and not worry about the price per year...i do think it is a valuable tool and needs to be around in some aspect...

[Peter Davison]

I think its a great to have the connections made thru this site. There is a donation button on the right side if just 180of the 700 members donated 1 pound a year we would be in fine shape. Thats not even a coffee! i am embarassed that i didn't know the costs. If people get value then its worth a pound. Maybe when or if we ask who votes to keep the site alive will not be show of hands but a pound in the can.

[Ellen Donnelly]

hi

 

I just wanted to add that I think the site is really useful to access so many workers, particularly through the emails that go out to all members, as it transcends vol/stat/unafflicated sector divisions. Perhaps we could make better use of this opportunity, by co-orinating an ebulliten which goes out regularly, along with some info from the forums, so people could op in to the conversations if they wish. This could be shared by a few people rather than the burden left on one person.

 

Perhaps you could approach the youth work union for the funding to keep the network going or discuss a partnership for them to help manage the site? (I confess I'm not up to date with the Union so not sure how realistic or appropiate this would be). Alternaively, I'm happy to may a coffee cup's worth towards the site.

 

Ellen

 

 

[Fergal Barr]

glad to see some replies....nice to know the support is beginning to materialise and I think you're right peter....very few know of costs and I agree with you ellen....we probably have to get more pro-active and it really does straddle the sectors....it's about one of the few things that does....

 

not sure about the link with the unions in terms of securing funding, think it's unlikely and I think if there was a direct link some might have difficulties with it or be asked to withdraw from it as it might be a 'conflict of interests'....I think however, we can be resourceful in terms of identifying funding to cover this which in real terms is a platry amount although not so if you're the only one paying it...

 

So I do believe we can cover this ourselves with the longer-term view of securing funding to cover the cost and also look at how we can be more pro-active....

 

In the 'early days' Alastair and I took turns at messaging the network but just with our own commitments that was difficult to maintain...perhaps if we could get more people responding to this mail we can maybe establish a kind of rota for it....???  Might be one way of reigniting interest levels...

[Paul Smyth]

I couldn't find this discussion when I checked in after the message last week - which is why I haven't commented earlier.  I had suggested to Alastair that Facebook might offer most of the tools available on here, and pointed him to a group there called 'The Youth Work and Democracy' that we've been running with Youth Action, Save the Children and the Assembly education team.  However, there may also be a value in keeping this group going - especially if we can get more people using and posting stuff.

 

As an alternative to trying to get members to donate - how about an annual fundraiser?  This would give people a chance to meet up - maybe for a pub quiz or movie night - something of that ilk.  It would also give us a chance to raise some money - maybe more than the fee - so we could do more to promote the network.  What this group does - is what we also intend for the YWAD group - to give workers a boost, and some peer support - so a social once per year, might just do the trick!

 

Warm regards, and thanks to Alastair and Ferghal for keeping 'er lit - as Barry McIlduff would say!

 

Paul

[Graeme]

A quick couple of thoughts...

 

Youth workers are too used to fighting a lonely battle and paying for the priviledge out of their own pocket, thus committed and hard working folks like Alastair are indicative of the type of person who would appreciate this.  The rest of us should therefore know better!  It should not be allowed to continue that this is financed by one person.

 

The other occupational hazzard, however, is busy people who don't take the time they might otherwise intend to participate and to contribute a sub, no matter how small.  (Can we as youthworkers sometimes be more irresponsible than young people...discuss!?).  I don't want to be cynical though, just realistic - there must be a solution!

 

It may well be that something like FB would offer a free and more easily accessible solution.  Before going that route it would need to be established whether it serve the same purpose, and may there be some youthworkers who decide not to have a presence on FB for personaly and professional reasons? The trend would seem to be that direction though, as forums tend to be very specialised these days, but that shouldn't mean this isn't a viable option if enough people would pay up - I am willing to pay a small amount but it would probably cause people to question more what they are a part of.

 

Many thanks to those who do put effort hard work (and money) into this.  Sorry that these words are quick, rambling and incoherent...

 

Graeme

 

 

[Gordon Crozier]

Hi

I joined fairly recently and was interested as I'm looking at what information I could inpart and take from the others here. There is a lot of information but I think the lack of interaction (well from a public point of view) hurts what could be a great resource. A lot of the groups have little to no posts going up and for someone new, it looks like things have died a bit. I love the idea and the resource here is brilliantly set up, kudos to everyone involved. But I think unless things look lively then people will be less likely to get involved. I know one answer is for people like myself to post but having rattled around in an empty forum myself before, it can feel a bit of an uphill struggle

 

With hope that I haven't offended anyone

Gordon

Randomer

[Dorothea Rien]

Hi

I have only been a member for about 6 month now. I have joined the network originally as I am currently a youth Project worker in Letterkenny and wanted to be more informed about the opportunities in Northern Ireland.

While I have found some useful links and help I also think that nowadays most groups meet on Facebook and it is a very easy to use and free resource. Why not use it?

Another issue is that of keeping such a big site updated. There is a lot of different topics and points that need to be updated very regularly to be effective and usefull and I know how valuable time can be when trying to keep the own project going never mind updating a site like this. I think that the decline in usage of this site is just a reflection of the struggling times we live in and that no one has time to do anything extra as we spend more time then ever fund-raising/recruiting volunteers etc. I would suggest to have another closer look at the relevance of the topics that are addressed with this site and make it fit to these current times by adding special features on fund-raising. Maybe a Volunteer network place and more usefull resources like current groups and trends and how to go about starting these.

I also agree with the others that is shouldn't be down to one person paying for this page and think that a fund-raiser a year in the different areas would be a great idea not just to raise funds but also to offer an extra opportunity to network.

 

Could I also ask in which way you publicise this page? As I am currently not involved in Youth work in NI I am not aware of the level of knowlege and importance of this network to the individual projects and groups. But I strongly agree that people will use this page more if it offers them important tools that will make their work easier. Another Idea would be to have a current up to date list of groups and projects in the different area including times, activities and agegroups and make these on the one hand side available to the youth workers (including statistics and resource information) and on the other let the young people see it as a hub of what programmes there are for them in NI. I am aware that this would be a time consuming  job but certainly  think that it would not just make this site but youth work itself more effective.

 

All the best

 

Dori Rien

 

[Stephen Hughes]

Hi Alastair, this is a much needed site and maybe just needs some more marketing. Maybe it needs. Team of people to manage it. I would love for the youth workers association to manage it and with your permission if you wish to hand it to them s a project and they could over the costs. It would be a sin to lose it, TTY you best to keep it operational

[Fergal Barr]

Hey really nice to see more comments up here, thanks for this and lots of ideas....

 

I appreciate the comments re facebook in terms of costs and access and whilst a very viable way or promoting a site like this my fear would be that it would just turn into another facebook site and eventually people would lose interest and the same question would pop up in time....and we could end up with the whole 'poking' business and endless comments that people do on facebook and I think that would ultimately take away from the true meaning of this site....

 

I think as Stephen suggested is some form of 'marketing'...that covers quite a bit but because everyone is responsible and thus no-one it means no-one is quite sure who is leading of taking responsibility.....through the responses alone here there is enough people to lead and take responsibilities....

 

I think it's a case of identifying what needs to be done to strengthen, promote and market the site as a a viable tool and then agreeing who does what....that sounds like a call for a meeting and I'd be happy to travel east but likewise as me, alastair and dorothea are based in the west, at least alastair-work wise, we could even look at the possibility of holding meetings once every six months....in each 'jurisdiction'....:-)

 

For me, cost isn't really the issue....eight of us including Alastair have commented....that's £20 each per year if we really wanted just to cover costs for this year.....

 

I believe in the old field of dreams approach...build it and they will come.....we've certainly laid the foundations I believe.....

 

So the idea of an annual fundraiser, maybe an annual conference where for example Stephen the Youth Workers Association could lead or where all our organisations could partner on along with a 'co-ordinating group' meeting every six months is possible.....I think we just need to reignite this network...not least of all because it's the only of it's kind I know....and I think it would be shame to lose that...

 

 

 

 

[Darren Linton]

Hi all,

When i am on the network i enjoy it, and i most certainly enjoy the information that comes my way via email around the goings on of youthworky stuff which benifits young people. However i have to say i dont get on as much as i would like but i do not wish it to to be closed.. enough said i think....

i also want to take this opportuninty to thank all those involved in the running of the site and those who pay for its up keep... thank you 

Darren