2. • The RSA is a charity devoted to finding innovative, practical solutions to today’s
pressing social problems that aims to build a progressive, inclusive and capable
society.
• We inspire public discourse and critical debate
– The UK’s best free public lecture programme with over 150 events a year
– Our RSAnimates have a viewership of over 50 million people
• We have an international Fellowship of over 27,000 achievers and influencers
from a wide array of backgrounds and professions
– This provides an opportunity to build momentum around new ideas and create
innovative solutions
• The RSA Connected Communities team has pioneered the use of social network
analysis as means of achieving social policy outcomes.
– The RSA is currently piloting social network-based interventions to increase wellbeing in
seven sites in deprived areas of England, and Social Mirror builds upon this work
The RSA
3. “If we wanted to get people
to quit smoking, we would
not arrange them in a line
and get the first one to quit
and tell him to pass it on.
Rather, we would surround a
smoker with multiple
nonsmokers, perhaps in a
squad…”
Why Networks?
5. Area 1
• fifth of people with no qualifications (13% national average)
• %age of people with problems with writing 38% higher than national average
• only 3% people belong to formal group with neighbours
• teenage pregnancy rate 71 per 1,000 (national average 42)
• 18% of people feel ‘very unsafe’ after dark (twice national average)
A quick quiz…
6. Area 2
• almost half the population are educated to degree level or above (29% national
average)
• over ¾ with broadband/dial-up at home (70% national average)
• a rich, empowered third sector infrastructure with a community forum of over 70
organisations/activists
• 95% of people undertaking recommended amount of exercise (national average); 90%
people with health improving/same (80% nationally)
• 40% reduction in people feeling very unsafe after dark
A quick quiz…
10. • unseen, untapped capacity in communities to address opportunities/problems
• higher social capital areas have better health, education, economic, crime, community
governance outcomes
• networks have dynamic qualities through which behaviour, emotional states, conditions,
influence spread and cluster
• limits building of new community infrastructure on top of old, which is then marginalised
and decays
• asset-based approach
• different conceptions of community within place based networks
• reduced public finances necessitate debate on what state should do for communities and
what communities must do for themselves
Why Connected Communities?
11. • The RSA is currently piloting
social network-based
interventions to increase
wellbeing in seven sites in
deprived areas of England, and
Social Mirror builds upon this
work
• This is based on analyses of c.
3000 people’s social and
community connections
Questions is: if your network
map is a map of you, how do you
get to read it?
Social Mirror: roots in reflexivity
13. What happens of this information is used by health professionals?
• Social connections influence our wellbeing and life outcomes
• Isolation is linked to health complaints ranging from depression (costing the
economy £8 billion annually), to cardiovascular disease.
• Healthcare practitioners are charged with addressing such problems through social
prescribing but its use is patchy.
• Current evidence shows positive health impacts, but the economic case for social
prescribing is thin.
• How can busy health practitioners know what is available in the community;
how can the evidence be better collated?
Social Mirror for Social Prescribing
14. • Working with the Knowle West Media Centre and local NHS
• Based on existing data:
Social Mirror for Social Prescribing
16. • 150 users
• 85% reported positive experience of doing social mirror
• 10% report going to groups
• 43% feel differently about local area
• 40% inspired to go to more groups
• 64% first time they had received a social prescription
Pilot findings (in progress!):
17. • 78% think is important or very important that Doctors issue social prescriptions
• 50% would recommend Social Mirror to someone else
• 25% reported an increase in their wellbeing
• 30% have said it made them feel more part of their community
• 35% said it made them feel closer to their local area
• 60% said it made them feel like they knew what is happening locally
Pilot findings (in progress!):
18. Pilot Stories
“I can’t say enough about it because it has changed
my life. If I hadn’t done it I wouldn’t have known
about these walking groups. After I retired I felt like a
recluse, three days a week I didn’t go out of the flat.
I’ve now lost a stone in weight, I can talk to people
quite freely which I didn’t before. I’ve stopped
drinking alcohol - I don’t need it to help me sleep as
the walks tire me out.”
Participant, male, aged mid-60s.
19. Pilot Stories
“Social Mirror has made a massive impact in my life
because when I moved here I had nobody and
nothing. Going to groups through Social Mirror
started the ball rolling – I’ve been going to groups for
my children and for myself, I’ve made friends, and I
know the area better. My life is a lot happier and
more content now and I don’t feel so lonely.”
Participant, female, aged mid-20s.
20. What this matters: 5 community questions
Do you have
social
support?
Do you feel
part of your
local area?
Do you feel
you have a
voice?
Are you
vulnerable,
locally?
Do you feel
you can make
choice?
Is there
anything
blocking you?
21. The Power to Create and Local Agencies
Network
Weaving
Brokering
Capacity
Building
