A joint meet with the local RSA, sharing ideas and our approach.

1. ‘Eastbourne
Can’ - a new
model for civic
engagement?
Will Callaghan
Mark Hadley
Duncan Adams

2. 1 What we’ve achieved
2 How we started
3 How little we’ve spent
4 What we’ve learnt
5 Future challenges

3. About us
Informal group with a bank account
10 strong ‘Exec’ on Facebook
Approx 50 at monthly meets
900 Twitter followers, 200 Facebook likes
Apolitical, “just want to get things done”
Work with EBC, 3VA, local businesses
and some RSA members
In touch with Chamber, Town Team

4. Since January
2012 we’ve...

5. Spruced up six
empty shops...

6. After

7. Before

8. After

9. Before

10. After

11. Won £5,000
from EBC...

12. Held the Wish
Tower Design Day...

13. Launched the Wish
Tower Friends...

14. Organised two
cashmobs...

15. Tested digital
What's On signs

16. And got creatives
networking...

17. We also offered a
forum for others...

18. Cohub

19. Bonfire society

20. e The Magazine

21. Street Market

22. Faster train
to London

23. Carnival

24. Dan Thompson (Empty Shops Network)
Legal & General (Arndale Centre redevelopment)
Eastbourne Borough Council (Devonshire Park plan)
Other guests this year

25. How we started
Will, David and Jason wanted to found a
group “that does rather than talks”
Interested in design, the Wish Tower,
anything that people had a strong
feeling about
Created long list of ideas by asking
Twitter, Facebook, anyone we knew
Public vote highlighted four jobs - Wish
Tower, What's On, Empty Shops, Digital
economy

26. £350/ year =
£10 to register web address
£5/ month to host website
£20/ month for posters
£30 for business cards
£0 for meeting space
Costs are rounded and
project costs are extra

27. What we’ve learnt
Social media is key for communication,
involvement, staying flexible
Set achievable goals and always deliver
Everything should look great and read well
Meeting venues should be design led and
have a pay bar/ food
Look for off the shelf tools (eg Wordpress)
Momentum is really important

28. What we’ve learnt
All age groups have something to give
No membership, just turn up and take part
Just need a willingness to get stuck in
Being persistent and professional reaps
rewards (including donations from private
individuals)
Most interest from IT, art, design and
political communities, newer business
owners, local freethinking groups

29. Future challenges
Cash and volunteers
Maintaining apolitical stance
Slow local authorities/ other bodies
Duplication of other initiatives
Should we become a CIC, charity?

30. www.eastbournecan.com
info@eastbournecan.com
eastbournecan
15th Oct 8pm, Dolphin
19th Nov 8pm, here
17th Dec 8pm, Dolphin