Community Network Projects
Community Network
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| Company type | Charity |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1990 |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom |
| Website | communitynetworkprojects |
Community Network is a registered charity[1] in the United Kingdom, formed initially in Northern Ireland in August 1990 as a 6 month project to bring people together across the sectarian divide using telecommunications. It went on to become a UK wide charity using telecommunications for social benefit.
The charity is a social enterprise focussed on establishing telephone communities as a way to socialise that is accessible to some of the people most affected by loneliness – older people, carers and disabled people with mobility problems.
In 2009, Community Network was awarded the Social Enterprise Mark]
From the 1st July 2013 Community Network’s Teleconferencing Service has been operated by The Phone Co-op
Community Network’s day to day running costs are partly funded by the income from its teleconferencing service for other charities and not for profits, operated by The Phone Co-op.
Approach
Community Network operates Telephone Community groups, most ‘meet’ once a week for an hour, at an agreed time. Each group has a facilitator – a trained volunteer, who starts the discussion and supports group members to take part.
Before each session, experienced operators call each of the group members, including the facilitator, to find out if they want to take part. They are then connected to the discussion. People taking part can put the phone down at any point.
Some groups are for general socialising – people chat or choose a topic to discuss each week. Other groups offer health and other information. Some groups bring people together because they have something in common.
Leadership
The Community Network Chief Executive is Angela Cairns from Dec 2012
The Chair of Trustees is Stephen Heard from Dec 2012