Sociability

We stay current by by delivering our own innovative technology projects, and by keeping on top of the latest trends and developments in the field, so we advise our clients based on what we’ve learnt from our own experiences. Here are some of our past and present projects:

Publications

• Social Media and Philanthropy – Andy Gibson provided expert input to this highly-regarded paper on social media usage by charities and grant-makers, published by the Indigo Trust and Institute for Philanthropy to influence donors in the UK and US. (Read a summary of the launch debate too here on the Guardian Voluntary Sector Network.)
• The Digital Garden – a think-piece written for NCVO outlining the opportunities for the voluntary sector to develop new digital models and deliver social impact at scale, and the implications for the sector of supporting this new wave of innovation.
  
• Local by Social – a highly influential pamphlet by Andy for IDeA and NESTA on social media in local authorities, showcasing cutting edge activities and signposting the way ahead. Since publication it has inspired an online conference and community site with 1100+ members, 1100+ contributions and 33 speakers.
  “Local by Social is the Bible of social media for Local Government.” – Steve Greenfield, Chair Association of Chief Trading Standards Officers
• Social by Social – the most comprehensive practical guide available for using social technologies for social good, funded by NESTA and co-authored by Andy Gibson with fellow consultants Amy Sample Ward and David Wilcox, and Cass Business School, and published by Sociability and OpenMute in 2009.
  “if you’re interested in using social media in your organization, and you should be, Social by Social is the real deal.” – Craig Newmark, Founder of Craigslist

Consultancy

• Reboot Britain – Sociability was the lead learning partner for NESTA’s flagship digial innovation programme, delivering the interim report and think-piece in 2010, and leading the final evaluation process to capture learnings and assess impact in 2011.
• NSPCC Digital Strategy – Sociability’s Amanda Gore and Andy Gibson conducted a comprehensive review of best practice in the field of social media for charities, and identified a range of new opportunities for the organisation as part of their digital strategy review in Nov 2010.
• Jailbrake – Sociability’s Cassie Robinson and Andy Gibson evaluated this specially-convened Social Innovation Camp to build digital tools to tackle youth reoffending, capturing learnings about the innovation process for NESTA, and assessing the impact of the project.
• UK e-Petitions Standards – research and engagement project for Futuregov and DCLG in 2009, bringing together digital activists, commercial software vendors, local council practitioners and policy advisors to develop the national framework and recommendations for all UK Government e-petitioning.
  “It was good to be part of it” – Tom Steinberg, MySociety
• Community Matters – a face-to-face engagement project to redesign their annual business planning process to be more participatory and responsive to the needs of their members.
  “[Sociability have] made a real difference to the way our organisation communicates and the work we have collaborated on will have a major impact on us and our members’ work for a long time to come.” – Rosie Anderson, Community Matters
• The Nag – strategic consultancy in 2009 to help this environmental campaign site move to the next level of community engagement and user growth.
• RSA Networks – an ambitious project in 2007 to turn the RSA’s 26,000-strong fellowship into a network for civic innovation. Sociability’s Saul Albert and Andy Gibson used Drupal prototypes and an innovative series of engagement events to co-design a user-supported prototype platform which was used extensively in the UK and US.

Ventures

• Do a Bit – our latest start-up venture to build digital tools to help voluntary groups and social enterprises manage their volunteers and harness their communities.
• Social Spaces – a collaborative project led by Tessy Britton to develop new forms of creative, asset-based community development and build positive, inclusive communities.
• Mindapples – Sociability’s first spin-off venture, now a thriving social enterprise, combining all that we know about social marketing, digital tools, engagement events and community development to change culture and build better habits for public mental health.
• School of Everything – where it all started, Andy Gibson’s first start-up (now run by the other co-founders), drawing on our insights into education, network theory and web 2.0 to create a new infrastructure for 21st Century education.

Further details of our relevant experience, approach and capabilities are available on request to hello[at]sociability.org.uk.