A new name for a new era

Welcome to Amplifying Voices! To kick off a new year, we’ve changed some things around here. As of 1 January 2021, our HCR teams in the UK and Pakistan are operating as ‘Amplifying Voices’. We’ve got a new name, new logo, new colours, new website, and new stories! But why the change?

Our previous name, ‘Health Communication Resources (HCR)’, reflected our roots in health promotion. However, in the UK and Pakistan, we wanted a name that helps people visualise what we do. We needed a name that connects our use of media with how broader change happens in communities; to be a bridge between the concepts.

Bridging the gap with a new name

We continue to pursue the same vision as we seek to see communities live life in all its fullness, free from poverty, injustice, and conflict. ‘Amplifying Voices’ helps epitomise our process of equipping communities to speak out and be heard in order to take the lead in their own development.

Our role is to come alongside communities and listen. It’s then we can empower people to find what media solutions work in their local contexts. We help train them on how to utilise tools and strategies to their full potential so that the communities themselves can champion positive social change. This is our approach in every partner-led project, and so it seemed fitting to have a name that grasps the concept.

What is a partner-led project?

A typical community-centred media project brings together community members, service providers, and media organisations to create content. The media content can be anything from a podcast talking about dental hygiene benefits to an informal chat where a community member shares their story. It’s designed to tackle issues that are raised by the community. This, in turn, gets people talking about their ideas and opinions and helps people hear others’ hopes and concerns. 

Our partners then use trusted communication channels to broadcast or distribute the content, to help them play a key role in mobilising inclusive, community led-initiatives. 

New name, but still part of a wider family

Amplifying Voices continues to be part of the international HCR family. Our Australian team will continue to be known as Health Communication Resources, as it reflects the well-established history of strong relationships with Australian public health service providers. 

As our vision and values remain unchanged, we continue to be a family sharing a common commitment: we’re taking the same approach in using community-centred media to further our mission.

What’s next? 

We are currently working with eight international projects, where community-centred media is making a positive impact. Exciting developments are happening in each of them, and we’d love to keep you updated as part of our supporting community! Click the yellow subscribe button on the top banner of this page (or scroll down a little further) to sign up for our newsletter.

Thanks for joining us in this new chapter of Amplifying Voices!