The Power of Local Networks

Local people have the most powerful networks. They have the local knowledge and the local relationships to build alliances and make things happen on the ground. But often they do not recognise how much these networks are worth.

In a local community there is often only 2-degrees of separation between everyone. It is possible for the service user to know the local politician or the local business owner either directly or through one other contact.

How can local people use their networks to take control of their lives and promote their voices?

Public action is most effective when local people organise together. And when they use the diverse talents and skills that exist within their networks. The example of Menqual which I blogged about recently shows what people in Middlesbrough have been able to do together.

I get frustrated when I see powerful outside organisations harvest or benefit from these local networks without giving anything back. They rely on the introductions and the trust established within local networks to be able to meet and research with local people. Their products are then sold or promoted for their own benefit but would have been impossible to produce without the openness and willingness of people to engage.

How can local people own their networks? How can we ensure that powerful outside agencies respect and value these networks?

I have found that bringing local people together to map and share their local networks together is a powerful way to capture the breadth of their connections. Mapping is a very visible tool and can represent a network in a direct way.

Below is a presentation I gave about using mapping to capture and promote local networks. It comes from part of a wider public action programme I was part of.

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