The Information Challenge National Children’s Centre and Extended Schools Show 24 th June 2008 Mark Cheverton Managing Director, Opportunity Links

About Opportunity Links We believe that people should have access to quality information to empower and support them in the choices they make.

We believe that people should have access to quality information to empower and support them in the choices they make.

What’s the policy context?

What’s the policy context?

Policy Childcare Act 2006, section 12; the ‘Information Duty’ “ The Government aims to ensure that all parents have access to high quality, accurate and timely information… high quality accurate information can help parents support their children in achieving all of the outcomes set out in Every Child Matters” – Section 12 guidance (2008)

Childcare Act 2006, section 12;

the ‘Information Duty’

“ The Government aims to ensure that all parents have access to high quality, accurate and timely information… high quality accurate information can help parents support their children in achieving all of the outcomes set out in Every Child Matters” – Section 12 guidance (2008)

Policy Section 507B, Education Act 1996 “ The green paper Youth Matters made clear that taking part in sports, constructive activities in clubs, groups or classes and volunteering during the teenage years has a positive impact on outcomes in later life… Research into participation in positive activities clearly indicates that a lack of information on activities and facilities is a key reason behind non-participation amongst young people. ” - Guidance on publicising positive activities (2006)

Section 507B, Education Act 1996

“ The green paper Youth Matters made clear that taking part in sports, constructive activities in clubs, groups or classes and volunteering during the teenage years has a positive impact on outcomes in later life… Research into participation in positive activities clearly indicates that a lack of information on activities and facilities is a key reason behind non-participation amongst young people. ” - Guidance on publicising positive activities (2006)

Policy Children’s Plan (2007) “ Families are the bedrock of society and the place for nurturing happy, capable and resilient children. In our consultation, parents made it clear that they would like better and more flexible information and support that reflects the lives they lead… [parents] want information, advice and support to be easily accessible and available when they need it.”

Children’s Plan (2007)

“ Families are the bedrock of society and the place for nurturing happy, capable and resilient children. In our consultation, parents made it clear that they would like better and more flexible information and support that reflects the lives they lead… [parents] want information, advice and support to be easily accessible and available when they need it.”

So where do parents want to get their information?

So where do parents want to get their information?

Delivery Channels Front-line workers Children’s Centres Extended Schools Local Authority Call Centres Self-service (websites / kiosks etc) Family Information Services Peer-to-peer 3 rd Sector Libraries

Front-line workers

Children’s Centres

Extended Schools

Local Authority Call Centres

Self-service (websites / kiosks etc)

Family Information Services

Peer-to-peer

3 rd Sector

Libraries

Challenges for multi-channel delivery Fragmentation Multi-agency Coverage Consistency Assurance Security Currency Access Integrity Duplication Validation Accuracy Usability Utility Completeness Comprehensible National & Local Integration

Fragmentation

Multi-agency

Coverage

Consistency

Assurance

Security

Currency

Access

Integrity

Duplication

Validation

Accuracy

Usability

Utility

Completeness

Comprehensible

National & Local Integration

Some models that work One-stop-shop Outreach Referral Information hub

One-stop-shop

Outreach

Referral

Information hub

New Technology Every Parent Matters (2007) “ We know that there is a vast store of information available for parents, but its volume and fragmented nature can make it difficult for parents to find what they need when they need it – enabling parents to access information when it is convenient to them. New technology can help with this and we know that many parents across the social classes use the internet. “

Every Parent Matters (2007)

“ We know that there is a vast store of information available for parents, but its volume and fragmented nature can make it difficult for parents to find what they need when they need it – enabling parents to access information when it is convenient to them. New technology can help with this and we know that many parents across the social classes use the internet. “

Don’t worry, use the Internet!

Don’t worry, use the Internet!

The Intergenerational Challenge For most adults: The Internet is a broadcast medium; a library to be mined for information Search is king, take-up is hard For ‘digital natives’: The Internet is a social medium; information is peer-to-peer To be found, information must go to the users

For most adults:

The Internet is a broadcast medium; a library to be mined for information

Search is king, take-up is hard

For ‘digital natives’:

The Internet is a social medium; information is peer-to-peer

To be found, information must go to the users

A Glimpse of the Future From: A web of pages; based on isolated information repositories To: A web of information; an aggregate web of connected data sources and services Paraphrasing Tom Coates of Yahoo!

From:

A web of pages; based on isolated information repositories

To:

A web of information; an aggregate web of connected data sources and services

Paraphrasing Tom Coates of Yahoo!

Summary The challenges: Independent policy initiatives Numerous delivery channels Multi-agency environment New technology

The challenges:

Independent policy initiatives

Numerous delivery channels

Multi-agency environment

New technology

Summary Recommendations: Integrate the agendas Leverage the Internet to deliver unified information across delivery channels Work with other public sector and third sector partners Participate in national infrastructure such as Parent Know How Experiment with new technologies

Recommendations:

Integrate the agendas

Leverage the Internet to deliver unified information across delivery channels

Work with other public sector and third sector partners

Participate in national infrastructure such as Parent Know How

Experiment with new technologies

Summary Recommendations: Bring the information to the users Let your users market it for you Involve them in its production Consider how user generated content might work for you Be open with your information

Recommendations:

Bring the information to the users

Let your users market it for you

Involve them in its production

Consider how user generated content might work for you

Be open with your information

Thank you Opportunity Links: http://www.opp-links.org.uk / Image Credits: http://www.flickr.com/photos/escapist/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/hugovk/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/monnot/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/alykat/ Presentation available at: http://www.slideshare.net/opportunitylinks/ License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/uk/

Thank you

Opportunity Links:

http://www.opp-links.org.uk /

Image Credits:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/escapist/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/hugovk/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/monnot/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/alykat/

Presentation available at:

http://www.slideshare.net/opportunitylinks/

License:

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/uk/