About Community Web Consultant
Share experience, ideas and insights about collaboration between local businesses and community organisations to support local economies and communities.
Community Web Consultant Description
Can you imagine your neighbourhood with a thriving marketplace at its centre?
I don’t mean the type of marketplace politicians drone on about; they mean the market in financial assets, mediated by banks and institutions in the City of London and other global centres.
The marketplace at the centre of community life is where people go to trade but trade is not the only reason they go there. It’s where they: visit the library, go for a swim, enjoy a concert (on street or in a concert hall), join in public worship, meet friends and build new relationships …
The marketplace has always been the centre of community life. Consider the Forum in Ancient Rome, for example. There you could read the news posted on the wall, listen to politicians, have a bath . . . It seems we have lost this sense of community and economy being one and the same.
The giant corporations, who dominate the shopping streets and malls, are the enemy of local businesses and community, sucking finance from local economies. They centralise shopping in key places to maximise footfall and deprive localities of opportunities for local business.
The Internet is also dominated by corporations but if we are to reclaim our neighbourhood marketplaces we must claim the Internet for the same cause. It can support local economies, encourage collaboration between small businesses in their neighbourhoods, and build a local economy movement across the country or even around the world . . .
We must work out how the Internet can help rebuild local economies and limit the corporations.
This site will help communication between local businesses and community, voluntary and faith groups; it will show how we can use our online presence to support local economies.
To become a reality, this will need collaboration between many people.
The aftermath of the Scottish referendum in the UK may lead to power devolved from London to the regions. The main political parties will try to control this move to favour the corporations but with a shared vision, local people can build a counter-movement from the grassroots. If our politicians are not able to lead us then, not for the first time in history, the people must lead the politicians.
We can do this when local businesses and voluntary groups work together locally and online to support their local marketplaces.
On this site I am building a community committed to local marketplaces. It will be a resource for people seeking ideas and know-how. To join in, sign up using the form below. You can download my free ebook, "Community Development is Dead! Long Live Community Development", if you wish. You will receive a weekly email notice of new posts about the local economy and community development online. You can comment on any post you read and so build community on this site. It is easy to sign up on my website.
My plan is to build a community of people who can share their insights and experiences, ask questions and work together to understand how we can rebuild our local economies.
If you are a local business or social enterprise or any sort of community organisation and need help to promote your activities, find customers or supporters or build partnerships, then I may be able to help you. I offer a consultancy service and offer a free session to any group. The aim will be to clarify your desired outcomes and work out the support you need to deliver them. Details are on my website, click on services in the main navigation.