Home

Bear with us. Some parts of the site are not yet fully ready to show; and this is one.  You can maybe guess, from the tabs above, at some of the areas we will cover. But for an outline, at least: 

"Features" is about the construction of this site, as a communications channels, and news on the development of new features such as webinars. Here we will also have the discussion of terminology - the 'vocabulary' area.

"Community" has news on the development of special interest groups, local networks, and similar events of interest.

"Research" networks are really a special interest group in their own right; but so central to evidence-generating practice, that we wanted to highlight this area.

"Policy" is the area for news, analysis, discussions and comment on policy.

"Products" is the arena for a wholely new idea - that a community of practice can articulate needs and lobby for the develoment of products that are geared towards the needs of homeless people.

"About" is a standard feature of website design - a place that decribes the PIELink as an organisation, with governance, funding etc.

 

Features

"Features" is about the construction of this site, as a communications channel; this area is earmarked for discussion and news on the development of new features such as webinars.  

The rapid development and spread of social networking software - much of it entirely free to users - is bringing within our reach the capacity to communicate with each other; and with the wider world. In the features section, we will explain and discuss what new developments we are exploring.

For the moment, the most exciting bits of kit seems to be the two live streaming, broadcasting on your phone services, Periscope and Blab. Until the next wave of development produces something more, this is what we will be using, in 2016. We have a whole page in development, devoted to showing members how we can best use them - and of course the old favourite, Skype.

For one example of this truly cutting edge development, take a look at the Voices page, and click on the square for Ray Middleton (NB: in some browsers it may appear blank at first). Here we have out first ever attempt at live broadcasting - think: TV studio in your hand.

The potential, for action learning sets, webinars etc is huge.  As the number of such conversations grows, on a range of topics, we will be doing some pruning and editing, and then shifting them to the Library area, which will make them searchable by keywords.

To the features page

To the Skype, Periscope, & Blab page

Community

"Community" has news on the development of special interest groups (SIGs), local networks, and similar events of interest.

At this stage, with full membership now open (also available via the older, pielink.ning site) we are making a beginning in exploring with members the likely level of interest in several SIGs, specifically in commissioning, day services, research and evidence, and faith-based practice.     If these areas might interest you, or if there are others you would be particularly keen to see, go to the "Contact/Become a member", and send us a mail.

To the community page

 

Research

"Research" networks are a special interest group in their own right; but so central to evidence-generating practice, and the development of the PIEs project, that we wanted to highlight this area, with its own section.

We hope to be able to open a forum on this area in the near future. If this is of interest to you, let us know.

To the research page

Vocabulary

"Vocabulary" is the area for news, analysis, discussions and comment on the "emerging vocabulary" that we are developing - as used for the Keywords throughout the site.

In the meantime, here is a video on the way we have developed keywords, some of the complications that this throws up, the solutions that we have found, and the remaining difficulties.

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/K2_F1aJ5P48" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

To the Vocabulary page

 

Policy

"Policy" is the area for news, analysis, discussions and comment on policy.

To the policy page

 

Products

"Products" is the arena for a wholely new idea - that a community of practice can articulate needs and lobby for the development in future of products that are geared towards the needs of homeless people.

To the products page

 

About

"About" is a standard feature of website design - a place that decribes the PIELink as an organisation, with governance, funding etc.

The original PIELink site - www.pielink.ning.com - was developed as an experiment by RJA consultancy of Nottingham. This new site has been developed, building upon that foundation, with the generous support of a range of agencies, as listed in the "Partnerships" section.

The next stage, to take this project to a fully sustainable basis, is the adoption of a formal legal status as a community interest company, to own and direct the development of the website and to continue to support the community it enables. This "incorporation" (ie: as a company) is a necessary stage before seeking financial support and investment to enable us to mature as a social enterprise with an agreed business plan.

To the about page