Community Action: MK held a networking event for frontline community workers and local groups, and volunteers in Milton Keynes on Monday 22nd of June 2015 at Cruck Barn, Bradwell Abbey.

The event, organised as part of the Engage MK project and funded by Safer MK, focused on the effective use of social media to promote local groups and projects and communicate with their supporters and service-users. The aim of the event was to explore how community workers could use digital communications to better connect with the communities in which they work.

Two speakers shared shared their knowledge of social media through their interactive presentations. We heard from Sarah Moran, a freelance social media consultant and an associate with the successful local marketing agency, Jersey Road, giving useful tips on how to use social media to communicate and grow local causes. Hywel Jones, Campaign and Marketing Manager at the Milton Keynes based charity, Willen Hospice, showcased the charity’s successful way of working with social media on some of their very successful digital campaigns.

Aside from exploring the ways of using digital media as part of the community work, the event was also an opportunity to network and share useful contacts between the attendees.

Attendees also had a chance to explore the stalls showcasing the work that Community Action: MK does through digital media. This included stalls with information about our online volunteering recruitment service, the QuickChat mobile and desktop app used by Community Mobilisers as part of their community engagement, and OurMK, a brand new interactive website launched as part of the MK:Smart project, which allows every citizen on Milton Keynes to share their ideas on how to improve the use of transport, energy, water, health and environment in the city.

The Engage MK Network is a partnership project between Community Action: MK and Safer MK. Our events bring together staff, volunteers and community groups working to support MK communities. We welcome all staff and volunteers who work with local communities in MK to join our network.

You can follow updates about the project, including news about our future events, through #EngageMK.