Published on
10 August 2010 in
Youth Engagement.
Tags: EARLY, emerging technology, Facebook, flip, flip camera, flip ultra, Mersey Fire, merseyside, Merseyside Fire, MFRS, OurOpenSpace, Prince's Trust, rescue, service, Youth Engagement.
Last night the Old Swan Team 13 from the E.A.R.L.Y. Programme had their presentation, marking the end of their twelve week programme. The past week I have been putting together a short film using the footage they have collected over the 12 weeks using the Flip Ultra HD Cameras.
The quality of the footage taken using the Flip Cameras was excellent – crisp display and audible sound quality. The size and easy-to-use nature of the cameras meant that footage was taken in places that a larger camera wouldn’t not have been able to. For example with the use of the waterproof casing we were able to capture the team coasteering in Anglesey waters and experiencing the role of a fire-fighter.
When it came to compiling the footage I had purchased Cyberlink Power Director after reading that it was easy to use but had good editing features. I thought that this would be perfect as it may allow the team themselves to join in the editing process having had no previous experience. However when it came to using the software I was hit with compatibility issues, crashing and lack of control, especially over the audio levels. After days of not getting anywhere I went back to what I know and downloaded a trial version of Adobe Premiere Pro CS5. Having used Premiere extensively before I had no problems cracking on with the footage.
Finally the film was finished and it was received extremely well at last night’s presentation. Family and friends of the young people were able to see exactly what the EARLY Programme consisted of, they saw the young people refurbishing an Elderly Peoples Home garden, they saw them abseiling down a 150 foot cliff, they saw them working together as a team and taking on responsibilities that before they would never had done. I also watched the team themselves as they saw the film and noticed their reactions when they realised what they had achieved over the past 12 weeks.
The film can now be used to show future teams what the programme entails and used to show others the success that Merseyside Fire and Rescue help young people achieve.
Share on Facebook
Published on
20 July 2010 in
Youth Engagement.
Tags: ceop, E-Safety, EARLY, emerging technology, Facebook, gamble, jim gamble, Mersey Fire, merseyside, Merseyside Fire, MFRS, OurOpenSpace, Prince's Trust, rescue, service, thinkuknow, Youth Engagement.
Having finally but successfully tapped into Facebook, CEOP are now fully utilising their presences on the popular social networking site.
For the first time, CEOP will be running an online surgery in Facebook for parents who may have concerns about their children being online over the summer holidays. The ClickCEOP advisor will be online between 7-8pm on Wednesday 21 July on www.facebook.com/ceop to answer queries and questions from parents.
This link can also be accessed from the Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service Prince’s Trust and EARLY facebook page.
Share on Facebook
Published on
13 April 2010 in
E-Safety, Facebook, In the News, Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service and Social Media.
Tags: ceop, E-Safety, Facebook, gamble, jim gamble, Mersey Fire, merseyside, Merseyside Fire, MFRS, OurOpenSpace, Prince's Trust, rescue, service, thinkuknow.
The ongoing campaign for Facebook to adopt the CEOP Safety Button has been pursued further by Jim Gamble, CEOP director. This has come following the tragic death of 17 year old Ashleigh Hall who was murdered by a man she met on the social networking site. Jim Gamble met with Facebook creators in Washington to push the use of the Panic Button on every possible page.
As stated by the BBC: ‘Speaking after the four-hour meeting, Mr Gamble said Facebook was “one small step from doing the right thing” but had not agreed to his demands outright.’
It has however been recognised that they are looking to improve their position in child safety online. This will hopefully result in CEOP, Facebook and other social networking sites working together to tackle e-safety issues that give the internet a bad name.
In MFRS we have ensured that the correct e-safety provisions are in place by creating an E-Safety and an Acceptable Use Policy, as well as a Social Media Policy. There are five staff who have been trained to cascade ThinkUKnow training to all staff, particularly those who come into contact with children and young people who will then in turn be able to help, educate and advise Children and Young People about E-safety.
MFRS strongly believe that every effort must be made to safeguard children and young people when using new and emerging technologies, including social networking. Whilst we wish to make use of the potential engagement social networking enables with the public, we believe it is equally important to educate and inform on how to use the internet safely. By training the Youth Engagement staff to deliver the ThinkUKnow training, they will be able to use the presentation as part of the programmes that MFRS run such as Beacon, Prince’s Trust and EARLY. Furthermore they will be able to provide support for parents and carers and other staff.
Share on Facebook
