We've known for a while that SSE students build relationships and contacts and networks that are practically useful on the programme: indeed, that's a key outcome (our most recent data shows that 90% have kept in touch with contacts made during the course, and that these have helped in tangible ways; i.e. not networks for networks sake, but joint work, funding, volunteering, advice, introductions etc).We also know that partnerships form on the programme in different ways. Sometimes, though, it's difficult to track those outcomes and demonstrate the good work that emerges.
Three SSE Yorkshire Fellows, Jay, John and Justine, have partnered to work on an intergenerational project. They don't appear in this video themselves. But the results of their partnership and collaboration do; enjoy:
Thanks Nick for posting.
Yes, it’s true that SSE is to thank (or blame, depending on your viewpoint ha ha;-) for bringing together three new social enterprises with similar aims, but different approaches.
As all three of our social enterprises were technology-based projects, designed to give a voice to the most vulnterable in society; that we were all from Sheffield; and, erm, that our names began with the letter J; it was suggested to us that we’d be in fierce competition with each other.
Thankfully all three of us have our feet firmly placed in the collaboration camp,(and that it could have made the SSE course a very long and painful process indeed!) we opted for collaboration instead.
As the end of the SSE course drew near, we were so distressed about never seeing each other again, over a few farewell beers, we stumbled upon a way where each of us could pilot elements of each of our social enterprises.
John’s project – Neighbours Can Help – will be a website which introduces neighbours to each other so they can help each other (apologies John for my oversimplification). One issue he had identified (partly through the process of SSE) was that the people who benefit most from technology – ie, disadvantaged groups such as older people, wouldn’t necessarily have access to the hardware or the skills to use it.
Part of Jay’s project, Silence Breakers, is to refurb computer hardware for community-based projects – so this would give people the access to the technology.
And part of my project, Silent Cities, is to build capacity in communities by providing creative and IT-based training opportunities for disadvantaged groups – so we could give people the training of how to use the technology.
So Neighbours Can Help applied to Rotherham Council for funding to pilot a project whereby, as a partnership, we provided the training and the hardware for older people (in their own homes) to get online and become more independent citizens. And to make things more interesting, we also proposed that the training be delivered by young people, trained by Silent Cities.
The first four week course for Group 1, comprising 11 older people (our oldest learner was 85 year old) and up to 15 young trainers (our youngest trainer was just 11), has just been delivered (see video) and group 2 starts next week. Jay’s going to be installing computers in the older people homes in the coming weeks.
We’ll be putting another short film together for the celebration event in March which will show some of the outcomes.
If any fellow fellows are interested in finding out more about this or any other projects from any of us, pop in for a brew if you’re in Sheffield, or drop us a line.