Can you introduce yourself and tell us a bit about what you do, and your project?
My name is Matthew Spencer; I graduated from Edinburgh University in 2009 with a degree in Biological Sciences. Since then I have been trying to get a place studying Graduate Medicine, in which I was successful this year and will be starting in Swansea in September. Since leaving university I have had a number of jobs and been involved in a number of different projects.

In February/March this year I set up QuizMates – it’s a unique social event that lends some elements from your standard Pub Quiz and some from speed dating. We also throw in some comedy, prizes and a charity focus just for good measure

What prompted you to start quizmates?
I was working in a pub in Clapham North and started hosting my own pub quiz (the incentive of my own bar tab seemed a good offer). Often I would make my friends who turned up team up with other friends they might not have known – by the end of the night everyone always seemed to get along pretty well and I realized it was the perfect setting for people to meet one another.

I felt the nature of a quiz forces conversation naturally and also allows you to get a pretty good feeling off the people you’re meeting.

Who have you gotten involved so far?
A number of people from everywhere.

Most importantly my sister who has helped from the beginning and pretty much designed everything. Friends and family are always great for advice. Open Society members have been particularly useful in pointing me in the right direction for help, ways to save money, spreading the word etc.

Finally the internet – it’s an amazing resource for anyone with an idea and a bit off motivation to see it through. From web-design, marketing, making the quizzes, accepting ticket payments, any thing really, I have learnt from scratch but there is always a useful forum or website that is there to give help.

How was the launch?
Amazing! Thanks to all that turned up and made the night what it was. We had a turn out of just over 50 people and a hard fought contest that went right down to the wire – congratulations Quiz Akabusi for their deserved win.

Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves and it was great to see all the work that had gone into the night be worthwhile. We also raised over £200 for the featured charity – The Tour d’Afrique Foundation.

What are your plans to develop it?
I am off on a holiday to Africa where I will spend a lot of time deciding where to take QuizMates from here. I am hoping the next event will be in mid July.

Where do you see Quizmates going?
I think it has the potential to go far. I think it’s a great time to start something that is a bit different to your standard night out and I think that’s exactly what people find so appealing about QuizMates – its fun, different, and you get a chance to meet new people!

Do you have any other irons in the fire?
Ha. Is that a real saying? I like it. Mmm apart from medical school and QuizMates not really. Although I do help manage my brothers cycling exploits – he is the fastest man to cycle across America (North-to-South, East-to-West) and this week will finish an epic 4 month cycle from Cairo-to-Cape Town. So I will be having to give his website (www.yeshesmad.com) a bit of an update!

How long have you been a member of Open Society? Have you been involved in any OS projects so far?
I have been a member since the beginning and have loved watching Open Society grow. Other than helping out when I can and making the most of the socials this is really my first OS project but am just waiting to jump on board another one.

Do you need anything or anyone to get involved from Open Society?
At the moment – just continued spreading the word. But when I am back from Africa I do expect to be needing some help again!

Are you gong to be at the Social this Wednesday?!
2-4-1 cocktails at Miss Q’s? Count me in – I will be at the pool table ready to beat all challengers.

The Open Society Social is happening this Wednesday 11th May at Miss Q’s in Earl’s Court from 7-11pm. Find out more here: www.meetup.com/open-society-social

Here’s some basic colour theory below. Bare in mind your project or business when you read them:

Blue – peace, tranquility, stability, trust, truth, confidence, conservatism, knowledge, power, integrity

Black – power, wealth, elegance, sexuality, secrecy, sophistication and formality

Green – nature, environment, health, luck, money, youth, vigour and generosity

Orange – balance, warmth, enthusiasm, vibrancy, demanding of attention

Purple – royalty, power, luxury, spirituality, dignity, nobility and enlightenment

Red – passion, provocativeness, excitement, dynamics, speed, strength, urgency

White – purity, simplicity cleanliness peace, precision, innocence, winter (Imagine this text is white!)

Yellow – joy, happiness, optimism, idealism, imagination, hope, sunshine, summer, gold, philosophy

Our thanks to Paula – bare those tips in mind next time you’re designing a logo, website, or even getting dressed to go out on the town! I might need to re-think my purple dungarees…

Whilst some soon-to-be graduates really do know what they’re doing and where they’re planning to go, I really think it’s important to commend the uncertain faction as they step into a world with even less jobs and opportunity than when we graduated ‘at the height of the recession’ in 2008. It’s these uncertain ones who will be having to work harder – and with some creative flair – to find out what it is they want to do, and how exactly they are going to do it. It’s time now to score some points on their CVs and make contacts wherever they can, without getting exploited and hopefully making more than the minimum wage in their part-time jobs.

Now, arguments aside, Big Society seems like a pretty good solution to all of this. And though it may reek of unattractive volunteer roles promoted by local councils, I’m sure these young people would much rather ally themselves with the other arm of Big Society – social enterprise – and get their hands dirty doing something ethical, and low-risk with the last throes of youthful freedom.

The fact is that whilst there is confusion around what social enterprise entails, it is clear that this sector is going to be the new entry point for many young people entering the workplace this year. Think about it – the sector relies on people with an ethical standpoint, an innovative approach, an understanding of social media marketing, and little to risk and lose – the silhouette of the stereotypical graduate emerges…

So instead of skimming Gumtree for entry-level jobs in industries you haven’t even heard of, try out as a social entrepreneur by thinking of the social and environmental issues that concern you, and those you want to change. And if there isn’t a social enterprise out there doing something to tackle the issue and in need of young minds, then there is an opening for a young person to drive change and start a social enterprise of their own. It’s time to get involved.

To find out more, or to get support in starting your own social enterprise click through to Open Society, Unltd, or Striding Out.

Things are really kicking off this year with the second event on the horizon for our Online Media Channel, previously known as Slumpwise. This year it’s uncovering the myths and mysteries around social enterprise. The event is due to take place in April so keep an eye out for the list of experts, who will be on hand to answer questions, share ideas and offer advice.

Our second Open Workshop, taking place at the end of March, will tell you all you need to know about setting up your own website. Increasingly, people are doing this with the same success as those who pay extortionate amounts to have others build them – and the truth is – it’s not that hard to build your own. So, we’re gathering some of our own experts to give you a step-by-step guide on how to do it.

Amongst many other fantastic projects we’ve got going on, one of our biggest is in conjunction with Earl’s Court festival. June 2011 will see the collaboration of all those local to Earl’s Court and we have been approached to support them in delivering their community and literary festival. Many of our members are now off and busy working with the Earls Court team, gaining invaluable experience in all things events and the arts.

We are also delivering our first Ideas Fair as part of the festival. With local community firmly in our ethos, we want to bring together all the community groups and local businesses and begin a mutually beneficial relationship with local people in their 20′s in Earls Court. A managing role is now available to help us begin engaging with key community players in Earls Court. Details of the role will be on the website soon.

It has been a crazy year in the UK; I think this is a statement that people will agree with from the poorest families to the top of Government. Things have been changing. A new government, budget cuts, ongoing wars, hysteria in American politics. The emergence of new opposition has been seen too: the student protests (the first of many) and the release of top secret Government information mean that people, at every level, will be made accountable for their actions.

2010 has been a year where mounting problems became consequences – a return of harsh reality for institutions that were delusional to the weaknesses they possessed. This was as true of the UK government as it was for our abject performances at the World Cup in South Africa. But at least the problems are out in the open now, and we know where the building needs to be done. If 2010 saw us start the new decade by taking the wrecking ball to crumbling buildings, next year at least gives us a clean slate to build on.

So it will be 2011, and if that doesn’t sound like the future, I don’t know what does. Out-dated, unhelpful practices are slowly disappearing and newer, smarter ways of working/thinking/playing are beginning to emerge. How we act and what we do influences how we feel, so aside from the customary gym membership, here are five resolutions for 2011, for a better year, and the organisations that can help you make sure you keep your promises:

1) Find a job that you really love

Do something you love

More so than ever before, people are defined by their jobs. Your profession is your main contribution to the world – do spread sheets really sum you up? Do you really want to work for a company if you don’t believe in what they do? If you’re always harping on about carpe diem, quit your job and do something you love… Escape The City and their growing community of escapees will show you how.

2) Have fun supporting great causes

Have fun, do good.

‘Meeting new people’ is an often repeated resolution, especially by people whose lives are dominated by their work. Add to this a desire to have more fun and support worthy causes and you have a perfect three-pronged 2011 mission: to have more fun, meet new people and to help others. Sounds difficult? It needn’t be: LeapAnywhere have created an online platform that will help you find fun events in cities around the world, support great causes and meet like-minded people.

3) Start something of your own

Empty property? An opportunity not an eye-sore, say 3Space.

You will never know if you can do something until you’ve tried it. There is more support than ever before to help you get your ideas off the ground. Whether or not your venture is a success, the experience you will gain is priceless. Open Society can help support your idea and find people to bring it to life, and 3Space can help secure free space for your charity or social enterprise, particularly for meeting space and events. In 2011, try your hand at starting something – however small -  and find out what makes Richard Branson look so smug.

4) Get involved with your local community

Lending, giving away, skills

Where better a place to change things than in the people and places closest to you? Find out the opportunities your community has to offer with Stickyboard and Streetbank. Transform your area’s carbon footprint with Transition Town, Project Dirt and United Diversity. Or just support local shops and businesses – many London boroughs now have reward cards offering great discounts.

5) Know the world we live in

Living in a desert island paradise sounds like a fantasy, but there are organisations that can help make it happen. Tribewanted runs cross-cultural communities where you can live as part of a tribe in an island (now in Fiji and Sierra Leone), and SL Volunteers provides people with volunteering opportunities across Sri Lanka – from sports coaching to working with the UN.

Travel plans aside, the online world is providing increasingly interesting ways of connecting people and presenting information. Now that people are finally understanding Twitter, its true value as a bespoke news service and way of keeping your finger on pulse is emerging. Wikileaks has provided insight into a world we’d never thought we’d see. The apps industry is playing out behind-the-scenes and is described in terms as excitably as those ‘Wild West’ early days of the internet. Augmented reality, photo searches: these already exist. It’s taken 15 years for the true value of these technologies to be realised and understood. 2011 could be the year where technology starts to deliver on some of the promises made in our imaginations; you won’t want to miss it.

Thomas Sweetman is the young co-founder and Director of Stickyboard – www.stickyboard.co.uk – an internet start-up that intends to transform how people interact with their local neighborhood.

1. Can you introduce yourself and tell us a bit about what you do?

My name is Thomas Sweetman and I recently founded a Social Enterprise called Stickyboard. Our aim is re-connect people with their local communities, providing a space online where people could find out about the best local services or most interesting events and most importantly have fun!

2. What in your background do you think prompted you to go it alone and start your own venture?

I always loved trying to solve problems, the more complex the better. My parents taught me that whatever I do it should help people in some way hence I started my career looking at what governments could do to help with social issues. However having experienced the frustration of trying to deliver meaningful change in big organisations I decided there had to be a better way and if I was going to find it I had better get out there and start doing it myself.

3. How important do you feel local communities are to people’s lives?

Communities have the potential to transform an individual’s life whether it be simply in providing companionship, a helping hand in need or even opening up new experiences and opportunities they never would have had otherwise. The problem for many is a lack of time to engage and simply too much unfiltered information. Londoners for example are actually very friendly, it’s just hard to mentally and emotionally engage with seven and a half million people living in a twenty mile radius! We’re hoping to change that by putting it all in one place so people can find what interests them and take advantage of what their community can offer.

4. What is the overall vision for Stickyboard?

Stickyboard aims to connect people with their local community, first in London, then nationwide and beyond. We want to give people the opportunity to engage with the groups, events and activities around them, to become the online hub where local communities, services and individuals can gather, share information and enrich each others lives.

5. What are the most important aspects to a successful internet start-up?

I would say you need to have a sound grasp of the technical AND business sides of the enterprise. Too many people have one or the other but not both. Often they have failed because either they couldn’t balance the books or deliver the service. If you don’t think you can do both (and many of us can’t) then find a partner who can help! Two heads is better than one, especially in business.

6. Some people would say the internet is responsible for fragmenting communities, and yet your website is designed to strengthen the role of community in our lives. Are active online communities and healthy local communities mutually exclusive?

Not at all. One of the most exciting things about the internet has been the removal of distance as a barrier to communication. One problem has been that when this all picked up we tended to get carried away with the excitement of talking with someone in Australia when we could have had a great conversation with the person next door (and even go to the pub with them!). However with more and more local sites popping up every year this doesn’t seem to be so much of a problem any more. The real issue is that it is hard to know which of your several thousand close neighbours might be interested in what you like. Stickyboard wants to change that by allowing people to quickly see what other people around them are interested in and take it from there.

7. Budget cuts, public austerity, a Royal Wedding, the Big Society – are we going to see a re-surgence of community under a government that seemingly favors an old-fashioned approach?

I hope so. When I look at the groups and enthusiasm we have encountered in our work I can’t help thinking that the Big Society is really an old-fashioned idea in a new package. The wonderful thing about doing Stickyboard has been finding out about exactly what is going on in a city I grew up and thought I knew. There are amazing things going on under our noses every day and we just don’t realise it. If what we’re doing can change even a small part of that it will have been worthwhile.

8. How important a role does your local community play in your life?

A strong one. I am active in my local political party and try to engage whenever local issues arise. It hasn’t always been easy though. When I came back from university I was keen to engage but the biggest problem was finding the information and the time to follow up on it. Most people have little time enough between work, tube delays and family. I figured if you could find a site that sorted out a babysitter, restaurant and something fun for the weekend in less than 60 seconds you’d go a long way towards fixing that.

9. Your idea is a big one… how do you avoid getting intimidated or tangled-up when trying to achieve an ambition of that size?

My old school motto was “A minimus incipe” – “start with the small things” which I think has summed up my approach. Whenever I see something massive such as this I take a deep breath and try to break it down into manageable chunks. I would love for this to take off in a year but in reality I am prepared to keep building for the next five to ten.

10. What is the most important lesson you’ve learned in starting Stickboard?

It sounds cliche’d but really “Nothing good ever comes easy”. Starting an enterprise, business or charity the odds are definitely against you. I’ve watched many of my friends get on in decent jobs while I’ve been paying a visit to the Bank Manager trying to sort out a business loan and moving back in with my parents to save money. That said when I look back I don’t regret a minute of it. It’s been a hard year and is unlikely to get any easier in the near future but for some reason I’m ok with that.

Visit Stickyboard today and find out about everything happening on your doorstep.