MS Alumni #1: Matt Barnaby
Introducing the MediaSnackers Alumni
The MediaSnackers Alumni are a growing number of past clients that could just disappear into the ether if we didn’t catch up with them. This is exactly what we’re doing! We decided to hunt down and grill them to find out what difference their training had made in the way they work professionally and personally. Each month we plan on showcasing the thoughts and insights from one such individual, first up Matt Barnaby from Milton Keynes:
What’s your role, who you work for, and what sort of things do you do?
I work for Milton Keynes Council as Participation Team Leader. I oversee the Youth Opportunity Fund, which is a sum of money that a group of young people control and give to other groups of young people or individuals on a grant application basis. I also oversee the MK Youth Cabinet which is a group of young people who represent all the views and opinions of young people in Milton Keynes. Over the last year they have made a huge impact on services, how the council runs and the lives of many. In 2009 we have worked with another local authority to establish a fully democratic Cabinet and enabling 20,000 young people the chance to vote via online systems. I do lots of other things like manage the Equalities work across the service; Work on individual projects that encourage people to engage and participate, develop the key Stage 4 offer to schools and generally dip my toe in most things!
Its been a month or so since you have been drenched in the MediaSnackers ‘way’, what did you learn from the experience?
Loads!
Professionally, I have convened a Social Networking group to begin to establish safe and exciting ways of working in new ways.
Started a ‘service’ Blog to share and inform (reducing email and enabling quicker and faster reporting systems)
Started using Google Docs to plan with colleagues to reduce ‘tooing and frowing’.
Made a short 2 minute film which we done in an hour and edited to prove it can be done.
Been active on Facebook (although still hiding from doing a personal site for some reason)
Personally have used it to build a GENI site and tracked family back to 1800′s as well as connecting with lost family members. Great as I’m going to be a dad and my Son will know all about his family! Also started a Blog as a means of diary. Using Google reader so that all I want to know is now my home page, saving me loads of time
How have other members of the team/organisation, that didn’t attend the course, received your new techniques?
I think they are bored of me going on about it! Some have really jumped on board and are doing it in their own ‘little bubble’ but I am struggling to get people who didn’t attend the Mediasnackers training to see the potential, not sure if there is a fear, a resistance, not enough time or just they don’t see the value? There is light in the tunnel though as people are attending meetings and I wont stop bugging them.
What has been the biggest and easiest change to make in the way that you work?
I feel much more confident in using systems such as Google Docs to plan, I’m doing projects quicker, easier and 100 times more effective (for example, this week working at local college with media students to have conversations about issues affecting them, all filmed and will be presented to senior members as solid evidence, no writing or questionnaires!!! Hoorahh)
Has there been any difficulty in implementing these new approaches?
Yes, I think that even though the service is behind this its almost as if they would rather someone do it for them. Saying that, senior managers are attending meetings and encouraging others do the same. Its very much who wants to can and who doesn’t, doesn’t at the moment but I have ideas that will bring people together and push them in to projects using this kind of technology and hopefully this will then make the ball roll faster!
What future projects do you have planned which utilise social media?
Well, already done a few media things (but got banned from uploading to YouTube grrrrr), a one minute film (which you guys have and are free to post for me ;-) …. Just finished 3 days with media students going around colleges and the city getting the views of young people on MK’s childrens plan. Been great fun now just have to edit 5 hours of footage!!!!
Hoping to use social media to organise the next Love Music Hate Racism gig in MK. I also want to make links to other countries and develop and communication where by people can talk and learn about each other, resulting in an exchange maybe. I also want to develop a full protocall in which we can then go ahead and do much more face to face online and get people involved in projects, so getting youth workers on social media really.
Thank you for your time, Matt Barnaby.
January 27th, 2009
Love the new ‘Alumni’ feature, and all power to Mr Barnaby’s elbow! I think the council of the concrete cows is very lucky to have him. And great to hear that he’s using SNS. Cool little film.
January 29th, 2009
indeed Matt H, I’m liking this too – mainly because Matt B gave us such a glowing report ;) – but also because, we at MS aren’t a pushy bunch, and apart from catching a 15sec video capture at the end of the training, we pretty much leave people alone to get on with their lives and re-approach us as and when they wish.
Whilst I’m looking forward to further glowing reports like this in future ;) the real benefit to the people reading this Blog is the application of our training. The more real world examples we can share, the better informed all us ‘social media ninjas’ are going to be.