Make it happen.
YOUR TOOLKIT
COMMUNITY GROUPS NETWORK We have different aims, but we follow the same process. We want to be listened to and influence the way we live in our communities. We share our experiences and tell our stories. We give a face and a voice to the people who live in our communities. We help each other, we fund projects and activities and all we need to do for it is to look for small changes we can make ourselves and tell others on activy about it.
CONTENTS 2
Philosophy
4
Process
5
Meeting Aims
6
Toolkit Contents
7
activy Netbook
8
activy Platform
9 10
YOUR TOOLKIT
Philosophy STORIES NOT STATISTICS
DO IT YOURSELF
The activy network provides
Action is good, but step back
funding for activities based
first, and look at what you
on your process, the way you
got, see the opportunities and
share your experience and the
then plan your actions. Small
solutions you pitch for.
changes can have a great impact.
THE REAL EXPERTS activy does not offer of the
SUPPORTING
shelf solutions. It offers tech-
Bound by the same process
niques and methods, tips and
and the same goal, activy’s
worksheets that will guide you
network consists of active
to collect evidence, give you a
community groups and organ-
voice to discover how you can
isational partners such as the
solve the issue locally.
Scottish Government.
Process 5 MEETINGS
WIDER ENGAGEMENT
The activy process is divided
Engage with community mem-
into five meetings. Each ses-
bers, talk to organisations, ask
sion has a precise goal and
them for their point of view.
visual outcome. The meetings build up on one another.
SHARING YOUR STORIES Share and engage activy
3 INDIVIDUAL TASKS
through your stories and learn-
Four meetings are kickstarted
ings.
through individual tasks. These tasks prepare you for the
PITCH YOUR PROJECT
next session so that you can
Receive funding from the
start straight away discussing
activy community to realise
and working towards the goal
activities based on your pro-
of the session.
cess and tales.
2. Map Your Community
3. YOUR DREAMS
This meeting gives you an
However big or small your
overview of the people and
dreams are, express them.
organisations you know in
Relate them to your con-
your community. This map
cerns and discuss where
will help you at a later stage
you could make a difference
to identify key people to talk
yourself.
to. Extent the map as you carry on with the process.
YOUR TOOLKIT
Meeting Aims 4. DISCover Solutions
5. Share your stories
This meeting will take you a
Tell and share your stories
bit longer and will probably
with outsiders. Tell what you
stretch over a few weeks. It
discovered and how you see
asks you to collect informa-
the way forward. Inspire oth-
tion that will lead you closer
ers to get involved to try and
to a project idea or solution.
make a change.
x 1 Netbook
x 4 Session Sheets
x 4 Instruction Sheets
x 600 Stickers
x 12 Marker Pens
x 1 Set of Story Cards
x50 Voting Stickers
The toolkit is delivered in a messanger bag, easy to carry and mobile. The standard size of one toolkit is six people.
YOUR TOOLKIT
Toolkit Contents
Google Skype Email Video Archieve
to the activy platform. It has
DOCUMENTATION & REFLECTION
UMTS internet connection and
After each session the group
allows cheap and easy com-
is asked to document their
munication with supporting
outcome and reflect on their
partners and other community
process. This feedback is given
groups.
verbally, quick and direct.
DIRECT LAUNCH
SHARING EXPERIENCE
Preinstalled and ready to rum-
Feedback and advice on
ble, does the netbook upon
process will be beneficial for
start up launch the groups’
the group, but will also allow
preset profile and an explana-
a continous iteration of tool
tory video of the toolkit.
improvement and evolution.
The netbook is the direct link
YOUR TOOLKIT
activy Netbook
DOCUMENTATION
PITCHING
activy is about visibility. After
Once group has run through
each session the group is asked
the process and decided to
to document their outcome and reflect on their process.
LOCAL Incouraging the use of local
LEARN FROM OTHERS Groups intention’s are divided into themes. LINKING PROFILES activy can easily be linkied with other social network profiles.
assets and facilities.
YOUR TOOLKIT
activy Platform
YOUR TOOLKIT
My Story This is an individual task
On activy you have the chance to set
1. Write it onto the next double
up your own profile. A good way to
spread and take a picture of it
start this is by writing your story. A sto-
so that you share it.
ry that talks about your motivations of
2. This is a great way to get
why you decided to become active in
started to build your profile
your community. Talk also about your
and share with your group
hopes and expectations and what you
members your expectations.
are hoping to see in the near future.
NAME
INTERESTS
YOUR TOOLKIT
Add as many contacts as you can to this map. It will help you later to identify individuals you can talk to.
MAP YOUR COMMUNITY
Map your community
This is an individual task
Take the stickers tugged into the back cover of the notebook. Think about the key people and organisations present in your community. Write one contact per sticker and collect them in the fold. Did you include local shops, community facilities, the community police Tip
warden or the minister of the church?
MAP YOUR COMMUNITY
My Community
Your Dreams You may have many issues and concerns into one place and lets you decide what to focus on.
YOUR DREAMS
in your community. This brings them all
My Concerns
Write down all your concerns and issues you see in your community. Write one concern a sticker and collect them behind the fold until next meeting when you will be starting off by sharing your concerns.
YOUR DREAMS
This is an individual task
Discover Solutions Talk to people, learn from others, see how you can solve similar problems in your community. You are likely to revisit
DISCOVER SOLUTIONS
this task a few times to add information.
The Facts This is an individual task
You decided on your three key concerns and looked at what you would
This task is about writing down the facts. What do you know about the issues. How do you see it. What do you think the reasons for it are?
DISCOVER SOLUTIONS
like to see.
Recording Evidence Interviews When talking to people to gain understanding, recording the event is important. Try to answer the following questions for each. 1. What did you learn? 2. What did you find surprising? 3. What were the most 5 interesting facts? 5. What are the hurdles and challenges? Try to take a picture of the person you talk to.
Tip
DISCOVER SOLUTIONS
4. How can this help you to accieve your goal?
Who did you talk to? 1. What did you learn? 2. What did you find surprising? 3. What were the most 5 interesting facts? 4. How can this help you to accieve your goal?
DISCOVER SOLUTIONS
Plan your Stories
The card deck is divided into the categories: Tell your story Your Voice Your Plot Detail your Story Take five cards at random. The cards are reminders of details of what to include in your story so that others can relate to it more. Try to tell an engaging and interesting story, rather pened.
SHARE YOUR STORIES
than a chronological explanation of what hapTip