I’m on the train on the way back from meeting with Madhava – we met up to chat about firming up the Development Plan for OnTheUp and it was incredibly useful to start getting some clarity about how to begin making ideas really happen.

Madhava went over the various key processes within the early version of they system we want to get up & running and started to piece together the database requirements and what links with what. This isn’t something I could have done and something I think Grant and Ross desperately want so that they can start looking into th technical development. We think we need to meet up now with Grant & Ross, so hopefully we can find a suitable time and get their input and then start making things actually happen on the technical front.

Things are progressing elsewhere too. On Monday I met up with Rebecca from Antigone and had a really good chat about OnTheUp and where the idea had come from and who everybody is thats involved etc. She’s today requested a it more detail so we’ll get that over to them asap to help them consider if they want to back the idea.

I also submitted a proposal over on the Innovation Exchange based on OnTheUp – they’re planning a ‘Festival of Ideas’ and today they contacted me to invite us along to discuss the idea as a potential method for supporting excluded young people. Fingers crossed I can sort out childcare to go along and this will be another opportunity to get some feedback from people about our plans.

Theres another relevant event called Shine organised by the UNLTD people. I can’t make it to this one but Ana and Madhava may be able to. I think the rapid amount of input since we met up just a few days ago is incredible – especially when you take into account that this is something everyone is working on on top of their other jobs & commitments.

I’ll send emails round to see who can meet up in the near future – we’re thinking to have two meetings – one about the techie stuff based on Madhavas sketches for setting up the database, and one to talk more about strategy – funding, marketing, firming up the development plan & so on.