The next Leeds Social Media Surgery is just around the corner – but the popular support sessions have already been making a real difference to a community in West Leeds.
The free surgeries – designed to help community groups and organisations get a grasp of social media – restarted early this year after a long break and have already attracted dozens of community groups, charities and social enterprises.
The surgeries are run by volunteer surgeons who give up their time for free and are also supported by LeedsLive.
Teresa Milligan, who works as a community builder at New Wortley Community Centre, attended our first surgery earlier this year.
She hasn’t looked back, transforming an under-used Facebook group into a thriving page at the heart of the community. Teresa said:
“The surgeons at Leeds Social Media Surgery were very helpful and friendly. They advised me to turn the group into a page, which I did and it’s been brilliant.
“I now get to see all the analytics, which helps me see what ages, gender and what time they’re online. I can then schedule content for relevant times, which is brilliant.”
Teresa says she’s had e-mails from organisations like the NHS, Marks and Spencer and others who have followed the page, liked what they’ve seen and offered volunteers to help at events or carry out activities.
Help from surgeons also helped New Wortley co-ordinate its Twitter and Facebook accounts, and Teresa says all the comments on the page have helped her generate material for funding reports.
She added:
“Everyone will come away from Leeds Social Media Surgery learning at least one new thing, and that makes it worthwhile. It’s great the surgeons give up their time for free to help other people, they’re really friendly and helpful. I’d recommend it to anyone.”
Next on Teresa’s bucket list is mastering Twitter!
Leeds SMS is run by West Leeds Dispatch editor John Baron. He said:
“It’s great to see how the surgeries are making a difference to communities across Leeds. All of the surgeons are volunteers and it’s rewarding to hear of success stories like Teresa’s.”
The next surgery will be held in the offices of the Open Data Institute – where LeedsLive is based – on Tuesday, July 24 on the third floor of Munro House, opposite Leeds Bus Station.
The event starts at 5.30pm and tickets can be booked here.