Andrea, tell me about the Big Assist and the Fed’s social media project. I understand the Big Assist helped by funding the project. How did this help?
I think being able to get funding for projects like this is of great benefit to the LGBT community. Learning about social media and the basics of the technology behind it allowed us to think about how to gain the interest of members and others using social media skills. We are aiming to build the profile of the Fed.
Who did you want to reach out to, using this funding?
Members of the LGBT community, allies and supporters of LGBT people and issues, hopefully worldwide. Bringing members of the community together is important because being part of a minority group can sometimes feel lonely; people can be quite isolated especially in some communities. Sparking up conversations with people who have different views and perceptions of life is a good thing; it helps to break down barriers and connect us.
Can you give any examples of the kind of work you did on the project?
We learned about social media websites such as Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and ways to get noticed, how important reach is and how random response to posts and tweets can be. You never know if you are going to get 12 hits or 2000. For example, a blog which was posted by one of our members on the Fed webpage was then shared on Facebook and Twitter, linking it to other social media groups which had an interest in the subject matter (a music review). These links attracted comments from as far afield as the USA, and helped the Fed grow its profile internationally.
How was the project delivered?
Carolyn Reid was the course tutor. It was delivered in weekly evening sessions to a group of us. There were 10 of us involved directly, but we also disseminated the information to our contacts too.
Tell me more about the group and the people who were involved.
It was a very diverse group. There were members of all ages, male and female. We had deaf members too, so a signer was provided. I would say we were a socially and ethnically mixed group.
It sounds very inclusive and that members needs were considered, and that barriers to participation were addressed.
Without a doubt. Speaking personally, it was a very comfortable place to be.
What did you most enjoy about the course?
I enjoyed the social interaction, we all got on well, the way it was presented and received by the group. Carolyn has a passion for this kind of work and her enthusiasm and belief in the group was uplifting.
What could be improved upon with the course?
What I would like to see is a follow up course, with more in depth training. I don’t think the course we did needed to be improved.
What were the outcomes from the training?
I am now able to post to social media as an administrator for the Fed. I have also passed on the knowledge I gained to other members of the LGBT community, raising their awareness of the power of social media and how to be more effective at spreading information across other social media sites.
Finally, what would you say about the course to any future participants?
Just that they would benefit from doing it. Knowing that you are in a safe space helps the learning process. Everyone is at a different level, the course leader is aware of this and works with you at your own pace. And it was a lot of fun, with a great group of people, doing something very worthwhile!
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