Here's where you can find out what we've been up to recently. If you are interested in any of the projects more information can be found on our 'Projects' page.
To read any of the stories below please click on the title in bold
April 2012
SILK meet with L'Atelier de la Republique
March 2012
Dementia co-production project Insight report. Report detailing in the insights gathered during the first phase of our dementia co-production report is now available.
January 2012
Article about SILK on French website essenregion.org
SILK inspires team at Bournemouth University to create their own Method Deck
December 2011
Dementia project update - what we've been up to for the past few months
BIS Guide for Community Buying Groups - bulk buying featured as a case study within the guide
September 2011
SILK working on new project looking at the dementia care pathway
Better Homes report complete. SILK report looking at the housing needs and aspirations of older people now available.
July 2011
SILK rich pictures - we discovered these pictures while clearing our office, what do you think?
Older people's housing end of project report nearly complete
June 2011
R Film finished - participatory film about Parkwood Bulk Buy is now available
Two new SILK reports! End of project reports available for Bulk Buying and Houses as Homes.
May 2011
Kent and Medway Housing Strategy. Emma attends the launch of the strategy which features two of SILK's projects.
Apprenticeship workshop. SILK facilitated a workshop with current and past apprentices to inform the Apprenticeship Strategy.
April 2011
SILK contributes to the development of a strategy for the Nord-Pas de Calais region of France
Co-production roadshow. SILK jointly host an event in London as part of a series of roadshows Nesta and NEF are running on co-production.
Better Choices: Better Deals. Bulk buying project case study features in Minister Edward Davey's document on collective purchasing and collaborative consumption.
Director of Administration and Finance at City of Jyvaskyla shares experience of visiting SILK.
March 2011
Older Persons Housing project - ideas workshop held and research findings presented back.
Second workshop in Dover for project working alongside residents and Adult Social Services.
French student visit. Students from Denain visited the UK to find out more about social work, and came to see us too.
February 2011
Work shadowing. Demetria's experiences of shadowing an outreach worker from Porchlight.
January 2011
Dover workshop. We facilitated a workshop with citizens, NHS and KCC Adult Social Services.
The Parkwood Dollar. The credits have been printed for the Parkwood time bank.
December 2010
SILK and ESRO win MRS Research Award. Award won for Public Policy/Social Research for Just Coping.
Bulk Buying project receives C4EO validation. Project receives thumbs up from Centre for Excellence and Outcomes.
November 2010
Family Poverty workshops. SILK facilitate two workshops to influence the Kent Strategy on family poverty.
Foodbank for Kent. We would like to raise awareness about this great project in Kent.
A4e reflections about their recent visit to Kent to meet SILK.
October 2010
Older Persons Housing project. Second workshop held for this project.
SILK Advisory Board meeting. SILK hosted the first meeting of its advisory board.
Houses as Homes. SILK run a workshop for the resettlement of offenders project.
Kent Graduate Programme. SILK run a workshop for the new intake of graduates at KCC.
Houses as Homes. SILK facilitate multi-agency workshop to discuss research headline findings.
September 2010
Time Bank project in Parkwood. First few meetings have been held for this new project in Maidstone.
Older peoples housing needs and aspirations. First workshop held for this new SILK project.
LG Improvement and Development SILK case study. Case study on SILK featured on their website.
SILK attend the Kent Poverty Conference.
August 2010
SILK featured in The Open Book of Social Innovation by The Young Foundation and NESTA.
Parkwood Market place. Residents organised and held a day to discuss bulk buying, timebanking and other resident led projects.
SILK Facebook page. New page set up, where you can comment and link with others who like our work.
July 2010
Measuring Outcomes and Impact Assessment workshop. SILK attend workshop run by KCFN.
SILK contribute to the development of a Masters course on Innovation. With Professor Victor Newman.
SILK attend the RSA Social Entrepreneurs Network.
Bulk buying team share experiences with Camden Shares. The two projects meet up to share experiences and learning.
SILK meet with Keith Harrison from Rural Kent.
SILK contribute to Citizen Power working group.
June 2010
Access to Information. SILK have been facilitating interesting workshops on how people get their information.
Less Funding More Power conference. SILK attend, read our experiences here.
SILK take part in roundtable discussion on the role of technology in local government.
SILK takes part in workshop to shape participation NVQ.
Participatory video training. Demetria's write up of her experiences on the course.
Bulk buying update - community room now completed!
Anders from MidtLab refers to SILK on his University webpage - thanks!
Victor - When it comes to innovating we've got a lot to learn.
The micro-sociology of networks. An interesting presentation by David Armano.
Leading Public Sector Innovation. SILK featured in Christian Bason's book!
May 2010
Meeting with Dr Kip Jones at Bournemouth University to discuss qualitative research.
Anders from MidtLab, Denmark visits SILK in Kent
International visits to SILK. We've recently had visitors from Finland and Japan come to see what we're doing here in Kent.
Making Local Food Work Conference. Emma attended the conference in Manchester.
April 2010
SILK website - we're amazed - a big thank you to all our visitors from all over the world!
Plain English - Demetria attended plain English training and shares some tips.
March 2010
Bulk buying news article in this weeks Maidstone Extra.
Jens Peter from MidtLab Denmark visits Kent. Read about his experiences here.
Social and e-inclusion online conference. SILK watch the conference from the Netherlands online.
Service Design article in the Guardian.
February 2010
SILK work experience. Bridget joined the SILK team for a week in February read about her experiences.
Co-Production Practitioners event. SILK attend the event hosted by NESTA.
SILK meet with Victor Newman, a Professor in Knowledge and Innovation Management.
January 2010
Houses as Homes. An update on the project.
December 2009
The SILK team to would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
November 2009
Kent Graduate Programme Workshops. SILK are currently running through the SILK Skills programme with the new intake of the KGP.
Dance United event. Emma attended the dance event at the Southbank Centre.
October 2009
Innovation for Demographic Change. Emma travelled to the conference in the Netherlands to do a presentation on SILK.
KASS East Kent Strategic Commissioning Unit (SCU) Workshops. SILK facilitated two workshops with the SCU team.
September 2009
September 2009 SILK Newsletter
Sustainability and Climate Change workshop. The SILK team facilitated a workshop for the team's away day.
SILK attend the Bell Shaw fun day in Parkwood to meet more residents and to get their opinions on washing powder!
Barriers to innovation. Emma was invited to an Innovation Roundtable co-ordinated by the Cabinet Office and facilitated by the Director of the Innovation Exchange.
August 2009
July 2009
Presentation to Chinese delegation - Emma made a presentation about SILK to a Chinese delegation who were visiting Kent.
Food for Thought information on the Food for Thought programme run by the YWCA West Kent that Emma has been capturing using a participatory film approach.
SILK/YWCA Volunteering Day. The SILK team took part in a joint volunteering day with the YWCA at the Windmill Community Allotment Project.
Campaigning Is OK Emma attended the event at which a guide was launched to support community action.
Bulk Buying Project - Parkwood Fete SILK attends the Parkwood fete to raise awareness of the bulk buying project.
June 2009
SILK Pioneers Workshop News on the development of the SILK Pioneers Network.
Critical Perspectives on Service User Involvement Conference A conference held by the University of Brighton.
Capacity Building Workshops News on the development of SILK's capacity building workshops.
Bulk Buying Project News on the upcoming bulk buying project.
Robert Hardy talks at the National Council for Voluntary Organisations Robert talked at a seminar to promote innovation in the voluntary and community sector.
Uncovering the lives we lead - Suffolk Sarah from the SILK team attended a workshop in Suffolk run by the Leadership Centre for Local Government.
May 2009
April 2009
SILK attends the Kent Childrens Fund Network (KCFN) Conference. SILK attended the 'Step up to Participation' conference.
Sophia Parker delivers quantitative/qualitative seminar. At the end of March the strategic policy team held a seminar looking at quantitative vs qualitative research methods.
March 2009
Gateway - co-designing a customer insight and service innovation tool. KCC's Gateway programme is an ambitious approach to reshape the way people in Kent access services.
Food for Families update. News on the Food for Thought programme running at the YWCA West-Kent
Betteshanger - participatory filming project. See the film here.
SILK in the press! Silk featured in The Guardian supplement 'Social Pioneers - breaking new ground in public services'
February 2009
January 2009
SILK Nominated for the Design of the Year Award hosted by the Design Museum
Stories from 2008
Digital Inclusion in partnership with the Digital Inclusion team a follow up piece of work is taking place in Parkwood, Maidstone.
Just Coping Families a new approach to project work in Kent.
