Community Network Projects: Difference between revisions

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{{notability|Companies|date=June 2014}}

==Community Network==

{{ref improve|date=June 2014}}

{{Infobox company

| name = Community Network

| logo == Community Network==.png

| logo = [[Image:community network.png|The ''Community Network'' logo]]

| type = [[Charitable organization|Charity]]

| foundation = 1990

| ___location = [[United Kingdom]]

| key_people =

| industry =

| products =

| revenue =

| operating_income =

| net_income =

| num_employees =

| members =

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| divisions =

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| homepage = {{url|communitynetworkprojects.org}}

| footnotes =

}}

'''Community Network''' is a registered charity in the [[United Kingdom]],<ref>{{EW charity|1000011|Community Network}}</ref> in the [[United Kingdom]], formed initially in [[Northern Ireland]] in August 1990 as a 6 six-month project to bring people together across the sectarian divide using telecommunications. It went on to become a UK -wide charity using telecommunications for social benefit.

The charity's main focus is addressing loneliness for older people, and its chief executive, Angela Harris, has spoken out about this increasing issue in society.<ref name="Express">{{cite news |title=The dangers of loneliness for our elderly |newspaper=Sunday Express |publisher=Northern and Shell Media Publications |date=1 December 2013 |last=Johnston |first=Lucy |url=http://www.express.co.uk/news/retirement/446112/The-dangers-of-loneliness-for-our-elderly |accessdate=13 June 2014}}</ref> Community Network is also included as a resource to support loneliness in older people on the [[National_Health_Service]] website NHS Choices.<ref>{{cite web|title=NHS Choices|url=http://www.nhs.uk/livewell/women60-plus/pages/loneliness-in-older-people.aspx}}</ref>

The charity is a [[social enterprise]] focussed on establishing telephone communities as a way to socialise that is accessible to some of the people most affected by loneliness – older people, carers and disabled people with mobility problems.

Community Network has been working since October 2013 with [[The Silver Line]], a help line for older people established by [[Esther Rantzen]] CBE, by providing group calls called "Silver Circles".<ref>{{cite web| title=Community Network Oct2013| url=http://communitynetworkprojects.org/2013/10/silver-circles-a-partnership-with-the-silver-line| access-date=2014-06-13| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140715061939/http://communitynetworkprojects.org/2013/10/silver-circles-a-partnership-with-the-silver-line/| archive-date=2014-07-15| url-status=dead}}</ref>

In 2009, Community Network was awarded the [http://www.socialenterprisemark.org.uk Social Enterprise Mark]]

A number of other long-term projects in farming, fishing and regional communities are also supported by the charity.

From the 1st July 2013 Community Network’s Teleconferencing Service has been operated by [http://www.thephone.coop The Phone Co-op]

Community Network operated its own teleconferencing service for 23 years until July 2013 when this operation was deemed non-core to the charity objectives and was transferred to [[The Phone Co-op]].<ref>{{cite web| title=Charity Digital News 2013|url=http://www.charitydigitalnews.co.uk/2013/08/05/the-phone-co-op-partners-with-community-network}}</ref>

Community Network’s day to day running costs are partly funded by the income from its teleconferencing service for other charities and not for profits, operated by The Phone Co-op.

<ref>{{cite web| title=Phone Coop Aug2013|url=http://www.thephone.coop/about-us/news-and-press/2013/august/the-phone-co-op-announces-partnership-with-social-teleconferencing-charity-community-network}}</ref>

CommunityThe Network’scharity's day -to -day running costs arecontinue to be partly funded by the income from itsthis teleconferencing service which is also provided for other charities and not -for-profit profits,organisations operated bye.g. The Phone Co-op.[[Mencap]]

== Projects ==

=== Seafarers Link===

Community Network have provided a telephone conference service 'Seafarers Link' since 2009 through Community Network that supports retired seafarers.

=== London ===

Through [[City Bridge Trust]] funding, the Community Network have supported phone groups for the elderly in London since 2012. <ref>{{cite web| title=City Bridge Trust 2012 Annual Report - Page 15| url=http://www.citybridgetrust.org.uk/NR/rdonlyres/CDAC4DA1-63BA-47FF-90B5-1A2814B29D6F/0/AnnualReview2012LowRes.pdf| access-date=2014-06-28| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923203417/http://www.citybridgetrust.org.uk/NR/rdonlyres/CDAC4DA1-63BA-47FF-90B5-1A2814B29D6F/0/AnnualReview2012LowRes.pdf| archive-date=2015-09-23| url-status=dead}}</ref>

=== Bedford ===

[[Bedford Borough Council]] funded a Community Network project starting in June 2012.

== Social enterprise ==

The charity is a [[social enterprise]] focussed on establishing telephone communities as a way to socialise that is accessible to some of the people most affected by loneliness – older people, carers and disabled people with mobility problems.

In 2009, Community Network was awarded the [http://www.socialenterprisemark.org.uk[Social Enterprise #United Kingdom|Social Enterprise Mark]].

==Approach==

Community Network operates Telephone Community groups,; most ‘meet’'meet' once a week for an hour, at an agreed time. Each group has a facilitator – a trained volunteer, who starts the discussion and supports group members to take part.

Before each session, experienced operators call each of the group members, including the facilitator, to find out if they want to take part. They are then connected to the discussion. People taking part can put the phone down at any point.

Some groups are for general socialising – people chat or choose a topic to discuss each week. Other groups offer health and other information. Some groups bring people together because they have something in common.

==Leadership==

The Community Network Chief Executive is Angela Cairns from DecJan 20122013.

The Chair of Trustees is Stephen Heard from Dec 2012.

==References==

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==External links==

* {{Official website|http://www.communitynetworkprojects.org}}

* [https://web.archive.org/web/20140714180238/http://www.classtelecom.co.uk/en/our-services/conferencing/community-network-teleconferencing-with-class.cfm Training partner website]

* [http://www.socialenterprisemark.org.uk The Social Enterprise Mark]

*{{EW charity|1000011}}

[[Category:International charities]]

[[Category:Charities for the elderly based in the United Kingdom]]