HMR Circle model features heavily in South Korean report

A South Korean report on recommendations for social innovation has prominently featured HMR Circle for its model of tackling social isolation.

Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale (HMR) Circle is a not-for-profit community interest company which works to reduce social isolation in older people through social events, practical support, befriending and a volunteer drivers service.

Last year, HMR Circle made a series of presentations to an International Social Innovation Conference in South Korea after being contacted by Youn Hyo Bin of the Daejeon Social Innovation Center.

Daejeon is regarded as South Korea’s 'Silicon Valley' due to its hi-tech industry and an incredible 23 universities and colleges – and the HMR Circle model is taught on the curriculum of several of these universities.

The conference was broadcast across Korea and was also a live broadcast on YouTube for an international audience. HMR Circle was the only British participant and one of only two European contributors.

HMR Circle Director, Mark Wynn presented to the main conference via video link as well as to a pre-event fringe meeting.

 

 

After the event the organisers produced a report and guide in both Korean and English for distribution to academics.

Off the back of the presentations, HMR Circle features prominently in the post-conference findings and recommendations report.

HMR Circle director Mark Wynn said: “It is incredible to think that HMR Circle based on Oldham Road in Rochdale has such an international reputation across the world in South Korea and that students and academics study our work.

“We do hope one day to present in person in South Korea and continue to spread the Circle story.”

The organisers as well as making a generous donation to HMR Circle sent a series of gifts and mementoes to the HMR Circle office.

HMR Circle has previously hosted a series of visitors and delegations from South Korea and also made a documentary about the ground-breaking Circle model for KBS, the Korean equivalent of the BBC.
 

Read more: HMR Circle host delegation from South KoreaPublished: 14 October 2018