Wales Co-operative Centre

Communities @One in line for Major European Award

2008-10-16T00:00:00-00:00

Communities @One has been short-listed as a finalist in the European e-Inclusion Awards, a European Commission initiative. The Welsh Assembly Government’s digital inclusion initiative, administered by the Wales Co-operative Centre, is a candidate in the awards’ Geographic Inclusion category which recognises the achievements of projects that have brought together communities of interest over a very large region or which have overcome disadvantages of living in remote areas. The European e-Inclusion Awards 2008 are designed for initiatives and projects that have used ICT and digital technology to impact positively on socially disadvantaged or digitally excluded groups.

Thirty-five initiatives from public, private, charitable and community organisations across Europe have been short listed as finalists for the 2008 European e-Inclusion Awards, a European Commission initiative. Selected for their innovative uses of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) to help digitally and socially excluded Europeans, they are already improving the quality of life of many people and should help inspire others to do more.

Europe has made good progress in e-Inclusion in recent years but, with 30-40% of Europeans still at risk of being excluded from the information society, much more needs to be done. Nevertheless, the 469 entries to the awards, with participation from every European Union country, are a clear indication of the commitment to creating a more inclusive Europe through ICT.

The medallists of the European e-Inclusion Awards are:

Ageing Well Award
• Inforum (Hungary)
• Kommunförbundet (Sweden)
• London Borough of NEWHAM (United Kingdom)
• Seniormedia Marketing (Austria)
• Seniornett Norge (Norway)

Marginalised Young People
• A-Clinic Foundation (Finland)
• CSV TEN (United Kingdom)
• Cyberhus (Denmark)
• Fundación Tomillo (Spain)
• KPN (Netherlands)

Geographic Inclusion Award
• Kyyjärven kunta (Finland)
• Ministry of Communications and IT – PMU Knowledge Economy (Romania)
• Welsh Assembly Government (United Kingdom)
• Youth Association for Habitat (Turkey)
• South Witham Broadband (United Kingdom)

Cultural Diversity Award
• Erudis,o.p.s (Czech Republic)
• Focus-5 TV (Switzerland)
• ITpreneurs (Netherlands)
• Milton Keynes Council (United Kingdom)
• Municipality of the Hague Public Library (Netherlands)

Digital Literacy Award
• Association ‘Langas i ateiti’ (Lithunia)
• Les Ateliers du Bocage (AdB) on behalf of TechSoup Europe (France)
• Sonovista (Austria)
• Swedish Disability Federation (Sweden)
• Tampere City Library, Sampola Library, Netsquare (Finland)

e-Accessibility Award
• Apex (Czech Republic)
• Enable Ireland (Ireland)
• IAM-Ayuntamiento de Madrid (Spain)
• Medicton Group (Czech Republic)
• Synscenter Refsnæs (Denmark)

Inclusive Public Services Award
• Centre of Registers and Information Systems (Estonia)
• Sotiria Hospital (Greece)
• eHungary Project (Hungary)
• Mid-West Regional Authority (Ireland)
• Significan’t (United Kingdom)

The winners in each of the seven categories will be announced at the European e-Inclusion Awards Ceremony on 1st December in Vienna, as part of the 2008 e-Inclusion Ministerial Conference and Exhibition (30th November to 2nd December, 2008), the largest event on e-Inclusion ever organised in Europe.

Visit www.citizensonline.org.uk/e-inclusionawards_eu/medallists

The "e-Inclusion: be part of it!" campaign is organised by the European Commission. More information on this action is available at http://ec.europa.eu/information_society/einclusion. The European Commission bears no responsibility for, nor is it involved in, the events, documents or other manifestations associated or claiming to be associated with the campaign, unless indicated otherwise.

Digital Inclusion Wales Conference 2008

2008-03-14T00:00:00-00:00

“Community Engagement is Key to Bridging the Digital Divide”, says Leighton Andrews

Engaging with deprived communities so that they can make best use of current and emerging digital opportunities is key to tackling social exclusion Deputy Minister for Regeneration Leighton Andrews will tell a conference in Cardiff today (Friday 14 March).

Mr Andrews will say that the approach taken by the Assembly Government’s Communities @One initiative is one that potentially could be used as a model for other community engagement programmes in other countries.

“Communities @One provides a package of support that sets it apart from being a grant scheme and makes it much closer to a supported community development experience,” he said.

“It has built on the experience of the Communities First programme by putting in place Community Brokers to work with Wales most deprived communities to determine local need and the best way to address those needs. This may range from establishing digital storytelling courses to the community running their own digital radio station.”

The programme, which is administered by the Wales Co-operative Centre on behalf of the Welsh Assembly Government, has supported more than 200 community groups and voluntary organisations in Communities First areas since its launch in 2006, providing more than £6m in grant funding.

Mr Andrews said that he had agreed to provide an additional funding for the Wales Co-operative for a period of a further 3 months to the end of September 2008.

Mr Andrews said: “I have agreed a further £235,000 to fund the core staff in the Wales Co-operative Centre including the Community Brokers working in the field. This will hopefully give some further time for them to continue their good work and seek match funding for the successor project to Communities@ One which they are developing.”

The Deputy Minister added the programme had helped bridge the digital divide in helping people in the most disadvantaged areas of Wales engage with new technology in a way that is directly relevant to their lives.

Simon Harris, Chief Executive of the Wales Co-operative Centre said: “The impact that Communities @One has had on so many people throughout Wales has been astonishing. The initiative has helped to expand the potential for digital inclusion and what it can do for people in Wales who would otherwise remain isolated, excluded and outside of the ‘online generation’ that we live in.

“At the Wales Co-operative Centre we are now aiming to build on the success of the last few years by continuing to work with community groups and voluntary organisations and to help them set up social enterprises and to generate income, all through engaging with technologies.”

Further information on Communities @One and the ‘Digital Inclusion Wales’ Conference is available online at www.communitiesatone.org and by calling the Wales Co-operative Centre on 029 2055 6950.

Communities @One Reaches £6million Milestone

2007-12-19T00:00:00-00:00

Communities @One Reaches £6million Milestone
Over 200 voluntary and community groups across Wales have benefited from over £6 million of funding as part of the Welsh Assembly Government’s digital inclusion initiative, Communities @One, Deputy Minister for Regeneration Leighton Andrews announced today.

The Deputy Minister made the announcement at an event to officially launch the new Communities @One website (www.communitiesatone.org) which has been set up to offer advice and information to digital inclusion projects funded through the Communities @One scheme.

Communities @One was launched in January 2006 and is administered by the Wales Co-operative Centre on behalf of the Welsh Assembly Government. The initiative helps people in the most disadvantaged communities in Wales get access to new technologies, ultimately contributing towards community regeneration through improving skills and knowledge.

The programme has helped to fund projects ranging from setting up of community websites, digital story-telling projects that build a variety of skills and increase community spirit to community IT suites running courses in genealogy, local history, numeracy and literacy for the whole community.

Launching the website at Merit, a project funded by Communities @One, based on the Gurnos estate in Merthyr Tydfil, Leighton Andrews said: “Modern technologies can help transform people’s lives. Communities @One is about breaking down the social and economic barriers that can prevent some people from accessing technology.

“We want to encourage communities across Wales to work out their own solutions for their area - whether it´s relating the history of their community through digital storytelling, organising groups online, learning about email, creating websites or other ideas which are inclusive and improve skills and knowledge.”

“Merit and its neighbouring project Megabytes have received over £98,000 between them. Both are excellent examples of what we want to achieve through the Communities @One initiative which is to encourage community groups and voluntary sector organisations in the most disadvantaged areas of Wales to engage with technologies in ways that are directly relevant to people’s lives.”

In the case of Merit, Communities @One has been able to fund an ICT Development Worker who manages and supports the running of classes including computer rebuilding and maintenance, digital photography as well as an internet drop in facility.

Leighton Andrews added: “Through Communities @One, many more people are now imparting their new-found skills, enthusiasm and confidence on others in their communities, sparking a chain reaction that could be felt in Wales for years to come.”

Simon Harris, Chief Executive of the Wales Co-operative Centre said: “The number of projects that have applied for funding is astounding, exceeding our expectations and reflects the huge appetite for learning about new technologies in the communities across Wales. Communities @One has enabled people in the areas of Wales that could benefit most to engage with technology, showing them the benefits of the online world which is now open to them.”

Troedyrhiw scouts get new computers

2007-03-12T00:00:00-00:00

Troedyrhiw Scouts celebrated their achievement with their new computers as 19 Scouts received Information Technology Awards last week. Over the last two months scouts have used the new computers and software to complete a variety of tasks online to gain these awards.

Funding for the IT equipment came through a £3664 grant from Communities @One, a Welsh Assembly Government initiative to help people in Communities First areas get access to new technology to increase their skills. The project is funded by the Welsh Assembly Government and the European Union Objective 1 and 2 programme. Communities @One is run by the Wales Co-operative Centre.

Other groups who access the centre will also be able to use these facilities, including other Scout groups from all over Merthyr, Girl Guides, Brownies, The Music School and Homestart. It will also make access to new technology easier for Scouts who have disabilities.

Ken Long, District Commissioner for Merthyr, commented: “The project would not have been possible without the grant and support from Communities @One. We also hope our new facilities will help increase our male membership.”

Ends

For further information on Troedyrhiw Scouts contact:
Ken Long
01443 692785 / 0777 3334904

For more information on Communities @One contact:
Elizabeth Hudson
029 2055 6956 / 07795 418106

Photos available for press, please contact Ken or Elizabeth:
Scouts with their IT award badges.
Communities @One Broker for Merthyr Tydfil, Stephanie Bond, with Scouts and their new computers looking at Ordanance Survey software.

Hospital radio gets funding to train volunteers

2007-03-02T00:00:00-00:00

Radio BGM has received funding from Communities @One to equip a new training studio at the Prince Philip Hospital and train local volunteers in new technology and radio programming. Participants will follow a 10 week course in technologies, communications and radio broadcasting to raise their confidence and make them into volunteer programmers and presenters.

Funding comes from Communities @One, a Welsh Assembly Government initiative to improve access to new technology for people in Communities First areas. The initiative aims to make sure people do not miss out on the benefits of new technology. It is funded jointly through the European Union Objective 1 and 2 programme and the Welsh Assembly Government and is delivered by the Wales Co-operative Centre.

Radio BGM’s project will train and mentor 18 people from Communities First areas in Carmarthenshire (Felinfoel, Glanymor, Tyisha and Llwynhendy) over the next year and is supported by 7 current volunteers. It will start with an introduction to new technologies, move on to familiarisation with the equipment and progress to programme development. Modules will include training in using Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) for gathering stories, interviewing and outside broadcast techniques, understanding audiences and communication techniques.

Media specialists have designed the training programme and will help deliver it alongside Radio BGM volunteers to keep skills within the group. The grant has also funded new hardware for the studio so that volunteer training can be sustained.

Kyrone Killick is Chairman of Radio BGM. He explains: “The project aims to build up people’s confidence and give them improved communication skills. We want to help people contribute to our programming and their community, and ultimately help their employability. We hope it will be a small step towards our community’s regeneration. Radio BGM also hopes to increase our valuable hospital radio volunteer base.”

The project addresses many points in the Llanelli APPLE report (Area plan for the people and the local environment), where a need for training in ICT and transferable skills, at local level and for socially excluded groups, was identified.

Kyrone worked with the Communities @One Broker, Marc Davies, on making the application to the Communities @One grant fund. Marc says: “Radio BGM have planned a great model that will help people get involved with technology in a really motivating way and increase their skills and confidence with ICT. Sustainability has been built into this plan so the hospital radio and community will benefit long term.”

Many radio professionals start off their careers in hospital radio, including Leighton Jones of Swansea Sound and Richard Evans of BBC Radio Wales.

Richard launches the project at the Prince Philip Hospital on Wednesday 7 March.

If you are interested in joining the Radio BGM project contact the studio on 01554 756567 ext 3139 or email info@radiobgm.org.uk

ENDS

For further information please contact:
Elizabeth Hudson, Communications Officer, Communities @One
Wales Co-operative Centre www.walescoop.com
Email elizabeth.hudson@walescoop.com Mobile 07795 418106
Continues (Notes to Editor)

Notes to Editor

1. The launch of Radio BGM’s new project ‘Aim to improve – improve your aims’ takes place on Wednesday March 7 at 7pm. For more information about Radio BGM contact Kyrone Killick, Chairman, via info@radiobgm.org.uk
Press photographers are invited to attend.

2. More information about Communities @One

Demand for support through the Communities @One grant fund is high, however projects can register an interest with their broker. To find your local broker call 029 2055 4955 or visit www.walescoop.com/communities@one
Since its launch in January 2006 Communities @One has committed £4.1 million to 103 community ICT projects in Communities First areas across Wales.
Across Wales, 11 Community Brokers work with local community and voluntary groups to create project plans that will use ICT to build peoples’ skills and help them apply to the Communities @One grant fund.
The programme was developed by the Communities Directorate of the Welsh Assembly Government to help people in Communities First areas engage with new technologies. It is funded jointly by the Welsh Assembly Government and the European Union Objective 1 and 2 programme. It is managed by the Wales Co-operative Centre.
Commenting on the first anniversary of Communities @One, Minister for Social Justice and Regeneration Edwina Hart said: “Communities @One is making a real difference by helping our most disadvantaged communities engage with technology. Many community groups are embracing it with enthusiasm and using it to change their communities for the better while building up their skills in a way that they could not have done previously.”