About Ask Bristol

In days gone by, people used to gather in public spaces to discuss the issues of the day, meeting like-minded people and generating ideas for action.

Nowadays, people rarely find time to gather and debate issues in person, but more and more find that the Internet can provide a way to meet other people, discuss issues and gain a sense of community online.

Bristol City Council provides a space, here at www.askbristol.com, where you can find information, access resources and of course, be part of the debate, whatever is on your mind.

About viewfinder

What is Viewfinder?

Viewfinder is a new site where you can have your say about all sorts of issues that may affect your life in Bristol. The site is a 'public beta' which means that though it all works we are still plan to make changes based on what you, the users think. If you do have a suggestion as to how we can make the site better then please let us know (link to form).

Why has viewfinder been set up?

Viewfinder has been set up by Bristol City Council to see if video can encourage more younger people to take part in local democracy by giving their views using technology that they feel comfortable with.

The project was developed with support from the former Department for Constitutional Affairs' Innovations Fund which has now become part of the Ministry of Justice. The objective of the Innovations Fund is to provide seed funding to support the building, testing and evaluation of new tools that will facilitate democratic engagement between government and the public, or between members of the public.

Who was involved with setting up Viewfinder?

Bristol City Council is very grateful for the help and input gained through Bristol's Young People's forum who helped with the initial concept of Viewfinder, with input on marketing and design and with the selection of Public i as developers of the website.

How does it work?

When you register, you will be asked to give us some personal details and let us know what topics or areas you are interested in. If you would like to, you can also select a user name so that you can make your views public without showing your full name.

Each month a different topic will be on the site and you can send in video, MP3, image or text content to make your views known. Once you've registered your mobile phone on the website, it's free to send in video or text comments from your mobile phone. At the end of the month your views will be wrapped up and the Council will let you know what they are going to do next.

Who will be on Viewfinder?

Viewfinder is open to all and aims to include people from all areas and backgrounds. It will give you the chance to tell us what you think at a time and place that suit you. During this pilot project we are particularly keen to see content from young people - though anyone is welcome to contribute

What kind of questions will I be asked?

Consultations could include:

• Future plans for the city centre
• Bristol health services
• Recycling and waste management
• Traffic and transport
• Leisure or cultural services
• Council spending priorities

Can only people with computers take part?

You will need to access a PC to register for the site but once you have done that then you can also upload content from your phone. Many people use computers at work, college or at home. For those who don't, computers with internet access are now available free of charge in all libraries in Bristol. Some community centres also have them and many places offer free training to help you gain the right skills. If you need further information about public access computers or training, please get in touch with us.