RESIDENT UNIVERSITY Birmingham

Issue 2

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26 th 27th March 2010

St George’s Community Hub, Hockley Citizens are not passive recipients of public services, but are active in shaping the places they live.

Resident University is a chance to meet all sorts of community, faith, neighbourhood groups, young people, social enterprises, elected representatives and neighbourhood workers.

Learn practical skills and find out about new ideas. Be inspired! Come for as long as you like or for whatever time you can spare.

RESIDENT UNIVERSITY is for Birmingham’s ‘resident experts’: the people who live and work in neighbourhoods in the city. Its aim is to enable more people to get involved in local decisions.

Resident University is free to join. When you do, you will receive updates on lectures, seminars and study visits; and about resident-led research projects. You can also take part via the website www.residentuniversity.net Resident University is managed by Chamberlain Forum—Birmingham’s nonprofit neighbourhood ‘think-and-do tank’ - and is overseen by a Council made up of members, funders and supporters.

Unconferencing In January, Resident University and Hello Digital supported the Digital Unconference organised by We Share Stuff CIC. The open space format of the Unconference created opportunities for participants to share their views and understanding on the theme of enabling people and communities to use the internet for their own benefit. Resident University will be organising a series of practical sessions during the year to help groups get more from the web. And the Unconference ‘open space’ format is one we’ll be using at future events too.

RU Research Work

Young Resident University is a research project led by young people’s groups. As part of Resident University, seven groups from across Birmingham will be looking for answers to key questions facing the city in future. The project has won additional funding from the Regional Empowerment Programme.

A second RU research project looking into Consultation is now in the pipeline. Please get in touch if you’d like to be involved.

D-i-Y Funding Approach Birmingham Open Spaces Forum’s do-it-yourself funding workshop in December brought together groups with experience of applying for funding with those wanting to learn. The approach worked really well: it’s something Resident University will be doing more of over the year ahead.

COURSES & MEETINGS Influencing Local Decision Makers Council House B1 1BB 9.30-12.30 March 2nd Looking at how groups & communities can gain influence.

Digital Inclusion venue tbc March 3rd 10—11.30am With Martha Lane Fox the Government’s digital inclusion champion.

Citizen Power St Georges Community Hub March 26/27th Two days of learning and networking with the focus on community self-help.

Resident University Council Meets regularly to discuss and oversee the University programme.

For details or to book places at courses and meetings use the attached feedback form, book online or call 07795 448 462

Feedback Form Use this form to join Resident University, book your place at an event and to get details of what’s on: YOUR NAME

PREFIX

GROUP or ORGANISATION ADDRESS (best place to write to you)

EMAIL

Tel No.

JOIN RESIDENT UNIVERSITY Please sign to say you’d like to join and that it’s OK for us to keep your name and contact details on a database so we can contact you in future: SIGNATURE

You can use the space overleaf to request information or book places at Resident University events.

When completed please return the form to: Resident University, c/o Chamberlain Forum, 206 Keys Court, 82-84 Moseley Street Birmingham B12 0RT OR go online at www.residentuniversity.net

BOOKINGS AND INFORMATION

Influencing Decision Makers

send details:

book places at:

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2nd March Birmingham City Centre

Digital Inclusion 3rd March Birmingham City Centre

Citizen Power Resident University 26/27th March St Georges Community Hub

Resident University Council

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Meets quarterly窶馬ext meeting in April

Young Resident University

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Research on Consultation

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FEEDBACK Please let us have your ideas and suggestions:

YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION AND A BOOKING FORM AT WWW.RESIDENTUNIVERSITY.NET OR CALL US ON: 07795 448 462