Every City, Town, Village & Neighbourhood should have a Social Media Surgery

Last night was the first anniversary of the Birmingham Social Media Surgeries.

I could explain what a Social Media surgery is, but Nick Booth, one of the instigators of the Birmingham event, does a much better job of it than I could ever do

The Birmingham surgeries have built a growing reputation, showing the effectiveness of the approach, in that a number of social media “experts” are prepared to give up their time to pass on their knowledge to people involved in voluntary and community organisations.

Over time, a number of other surgeries have been established, and I happen to think that every community should have one. At the time of writing, a number of colleagues are helping to get one up and running in Leeds, the first Surgery in Huddersfield is imminent thanks to Steven Tuck and his team, and Jag Gill and friends have also been making things happen in Sheffield.

Having experienced the Birmingham event first hand earlier this year, when I was in the city on other business, I made a special trip to the first anniversary event, to record a flavour of what happens there, in the hope that others might be inspired by it.

I am grateful that Nick Booth decided to interview some of the participants at the end of the event, and I was thus able to follow in his wake and benefit from his vastly superior interviewing technique.

A Flavour of the Scene at Fazeley Studios

Surgeons in Action – Nicky Getgood

Surgeons in Action – Gavin Wray

Gavin Again

Surgeons in Action – Nick Booth

Nick Again and Alan Colson

Interviews – Gavin Wray, Nicky Getgood & participants

Interviews with Participants

Interview with Chris Pinchen – who came all the way from Barcelona!