If you're interested in working with us, send us an email at hello@izwe.com or call us on +44 (0)20 7608 0815
The izwe project
The purpose of izwe is to change the relationship between people and power. Our aim is to both empower individuals and communities to create the change that they desire, whilst helping institutions be better placed to meet the challenges they face. Whether this is a council needing to change recycling rates or a hospital trying to improve it's emergency response rates.
In many ways, we are providing the tools to properly realise a lot of recent legislation including the Duty to Involve (2009), mandatory e-petitioning (2010) and National Indicator 4; citizens perception of their ability to influence decisions. We’re bringing it together and making the idea of the 'big society' work.
The izwe project is highly ambitious but we make no apologies for it. We feel the demand is as large as the opportunity; and both drive us on. We also recognise we cannot get there on our own and will need the support to help shape our direction.
We firmly believe that this kind of platform will play an important role in our society’s future. Exactly what form that will finally take is not clear, afterall democracy is never a finished project. Time will tell and any input you might have at this stage in our development would be greatly appreciated. Please don’t hesitate to get in touch at info@izwe.com
To find out more about where we are now, see below.
Phase 1: Research [November 2008 – July 2010]
In February 2008 we asked the key question underpinning the idea of izwe:
"What are they key opportunities to transform the relationship between people and power to enable society to meet the challenges we face."
Within this we focussed specifically on current practice in:
- Social Media
- Public Engagement
- Civil Society
In 2009 we invited nine local authority partners to work with us to undertake analysis of engagement in their communities. Determining what the needs of citizens and institutions operating in these areas were.
The findings from this research will be shared through izweproject.com from July 2010.
Phase 2: Testing & Development [July 2010 – Spring 2011]
Through the research phase we have developed an approach we are calling 'Third Generation Engagement' (3GE). 3GE is a bottom-up approach to engagement and service improvement mixing social media with consultation and engagement. 3GE will hinge around the shared platform, izwe.com [beta version with initial functionality].
This approach will start with our nine community partners in July 2010, where we will undertake a testing and action research process focussed specifically on creating demonstrable evidence of:
- community empowerment
- improved service quality, and
- cost savings
Phase 3: Launch [2011]
In 2011 we will launch the izwe programme, inviting all communities across the UK to get involved.
It is our intention to share the benefits of izwe as widely as possible, reaching 100 localities across the UK by 2015 and bringing together all people and all powerful institutions (public and private sector) to create positive change.