This short presentation showcases the first year in the life of a community website, based in the North London N21 postcode. In only nine months there are nearly 600 organisations with profiles on n21online.com; which aims to make it easy for people to find and support local businesses, social, environmental and community groups. The big surprise is just how much is going on in this little corner of North London. A busy year?

1. A year in the life of a community enterprise

2. N21online.com is a new social enterprise,
using the Internet to start to build a
stronger local community in the North
London suburb where I live, by making
these organisations more visible to local
residents
A community is an enterprise, to be
nurtured, for the wellbeing of its inhabitants
and businesses. One of the best ways of
doing this is by encouraging people to
become more involved in their local area
Launched in January 2010 this presentation reviews the first year in
the life of n21online.com

3. The dynamic world of local online communities
“New media is becoming more
important in the successful
engagement of local communities”
The Independent, September 2010

4. Enabling people to find and use local businesses
"A friend, Anne, has
recommended I list my
business on your site as she
has already had some
success from doing so"
Supporting the hidden business sector, people running businesses from
home, local halls and public venues and local retailers

5. Encouraging people to support local recycling initiatives

6. Showcasing local environmental & community projects

7. Promoting local events
“Wow, I didn’t know there was so much going on”

8. Supporting local charities
Over 1600 people have read “Thank you for your continued support”
about Woodcroft Wildspace Sue Jamson, Chickenshed Publicity

9. Celebrating local achievement
LOCAL GIRL KATY LAUNCHES DEBUT ALBUM & US TOUR HAPPY 100TH BIRTHDAY TO HERBERT HARDING ON BROADWAY WINS BEACH PRIZE
GOOD IDEA FROM COUNCILLOR LAMPRECHT HIGHLANDS SCHOOL ACHIEVES RECORD GCSE RESULTS CONGRATULATIONS TO JIM & WAYNE
WINNERS OF THE ELECTRIC BLUES OPEN MIC COMPETITION VILLAGE VET DEMONSTRATES THE WONDERS OF MODERN VETERINARY SCIENCE
CONGRATULATIONS TO ELEANOR PHILPOTT CONGRATULATIONS TO OLD GRAMMARIANS CONGRATULATIONS TO JAMES CREAGH
CONGRATULATIONS TO JANETTE FAHERTY CONGRATULATIONS TO ANDREW & SIMON WELL DONE OXFAM IN WINCHMORE HILL

10. Supporting community action

11. Promoting national community & environmental
initiatives

12. Encouraging civic engagement
These minutes have had over 200 hits, a new way
for the Council to reach out to local residents?

13. Providing new ideas for small businesses
This article has had over 1200 hits

14. Great feedback from dozens of people
The site looks brilliant!” "A friend, Anne, has recommended I list my
...it is an excellent idea to pull all N21 business on your site as she has already had
activities/info/history together! some success from doing so"
“thank you for posting the advert on
n21online we love the wording and the “Thanks so much for contacting me, I have just been
photos came out great we have already on the site and its great, I would love to be on it”
started getting clients from the ad”
“It's a great site, and thanks for “I live in N21 and would love to add my business
promoting The Big Draw” to your directory if possible”
“I've check out your community
website and its great! It would be “I bumped into Janice today who lives in Winchmore
absolutely fantastic if you could feature Hill, so naturally I told her about your wonderful
the Julian Campbell Foundation” website”
“Brilliant site by the way” “I would be delighted “I would love to insert
if you could put my an advert for my
profile on your fitness classes”
website!! thank you”

15. What next?
N21online.com will support local business through new local initiatives, in conjunction with
local business groups; set up working from home groups; set up N21 networking groups;
help launch a new residents association for Highlands Village and new youth club; help
Highlands School to build its community links, including a May Fair in 2011; evaluate the
opportunity for a new Farmers Market; improve the social networking functionality of the
site to make it easier to use; celebrate the achievements of N21 businesses and residents
and lots more
A busy year?
Helen Osman helen@n21online.com