Blog

Attending today's Europia Conference in Manchester 'Getting on... ' has inspired me to return to my very neglected blog! Despite the event being a stones throw from hotels that are famous for their high noon tea and cocktail bars frequented by footballers, the occasion was set within a modest building. Unlike many conferences I have attended over the past few years, tea was offered in plastic cups, there were quaver crisps, polish salad and women with their children sat on the carpet accompanied by a full-house of attendees. I'm not quite sure what I expected, but it was enough to get me blogging again

One of the highlights of my first year working in TSRC is the opportunity I’ve had to develop a legwork-mapping project in two areas of England for the Below the Radar work stream. The main task has involved traipsing through neighbourhoods looking for social activities, groups and organisations that don’t appear in regulatory national lists. I’ve been trying to build a picture of what groups are out there and the different types of work they are doing in their community and beyond.  These activities and groups are frequently referred to as ‘grassroots organisations’, ‘civil society organisations’ and ‘below the radar groups’.

In reality, whilst juggling other work at the TSRC, this work has involved a day a week over the year. This doesn’t amount to much time and I have not been short of things to do!