Digital Inclusion Minister sees Merseyside communities getting connected June 24, 2008
Posted by Rich Spragg in AIMES, Community Development, DC10+, DC10plus, Digital Inclusion, Digital Inclusion & Enterprise Programme, Education, GMDDA, Liverpool, Merseyside, News, North West England, St Helens, Training.Tags: Community Grid, Huw Irranca-Davies MP, OciusB2, South Liverpool Personnel, St Cuthbert's
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Digital Inclusion Minister Huw Irranca-Davies visited Liverpool and St. Helens last week to see how the Merseyside region is leading the way in making IT facilities more accessible to local communities.
Mr Irranca-Davies visited the Parents and Children Together (PACT) project, run by EverybodyOnline and held at South Liverpool Personnel, which runs a series of taster sessions to help local parents access the internet, learn new skills and find out how technology could improve their lives.
Following this he went onto St. Cuthbert’s Catholic Community College for Business and Enterprise in St. Helens to hear about the Community Grid concept, which provides the local community with easy-to-use, low-cost, low-energy home access to the internet and other computing resources.
Commenting on the projects he had seen Mr Irranca-Davies said: “The two projects I have seen today are great examples of how we can make the latest technologies accessible to people who, without projects such as these, would not have access to the internet and other computer resources.
“By teaching parents basic information about the internet they can make sure their children are safe online as well as finding out how they can use the internet for day-to-day chores such as online shopping and online money management. I hope other areas can learn from this innovative project.
“All too often we hear about the expense of the equipment and technology needed to connect to the internet being a barrier for many people. Thanks to the Community Grid project over 600 homes in St. Helens and Liverpool will have access to software applications and the internet.
“By providing people with all the connectivity, hardware, software, licensing and maintenance overheads Community Grid is removing these barriers and giving people the access they need.
“The PACT project and the Community Grid should be congratulated for their innovative projects which are helping people in the North West of England become more digitally included.”
The Community Grid digital inclusion project is led by AIMES, (a spin out of the University of Liverpool) and its technology partner, e-communications specialist OciusB2, more information here. It is part of a wider initiative, the Digital Inclusion & Enterprise Programme (DIEP), which aims to roll the service out to over 5,000 households in Merseyside.
“Alt Valley’s Got Talent” winner announced June 23, 2008
Posted by Rich Spragg in Awards, Capital of Culture, Community Development, GMDDA, ICDC, Liverpool, Merseyside, News.Tags: Alt Valley Vision
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Huge congratulations to the ultimate winner of Alt Valley’s Got Talent, singer/songwriter Michelle Strahan! Michelle won £250 and the opportunity to perform at a star-studded Open Culture event in 2008.
Special Runners Up Kirsty Crook and Urban Street Stars Juniors won £50 each
To celebrate the success of ICDC’s digital inclusion project, Alt Valley Vision, a community talent contest was held for anyone over the age of 8 who lives, works, studies or plays in the Alt Valley area of Liverpool.
Auditions were held in the community during half term week and each audition was filmed and is available to view on Alt Valley’s Got Talent website for all to see.
The final will took place during the Alt Valley Music and Arts Festival on Sunday 22nd June, with guest judges, Professor Phil Redmond and Joanna Jones Director of Bananafish Management, a successful TV, theatre and film casting agency based in Liverpool.
Digital Inclusion Minister to visit leading projects in the North West June 17, 2008
Posted by Rich Spragg in AIMES, DIEP, Digital Inclusion, Digital Inclusion & Enterprise Programme, GMDDA, Liverpool, Merseyside, News, North West England, St Helens, e-Skills.Tags: DC10+, DC10plus, DIEP, Digital Inclusion Minister, Huw Irranca-Davies MP
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On Thursday 19th June, Digital Inclusion Minister, Huw Irranca-Davies MP will visit two leading digital inclusion projects in Liverpool and St Helens. The so-called “digital divide” is increasingly seen as a major barrier to personal, community and regional economic well-being in the UK, which is the least skilled workforce in the EU. Mr Irranca-Davies’ visit will include:
- The AIMES Community Grid project. Acknowledged as a leader in its field, AIMES is leading the Digital Inclusion & Enterprise Programme (DIEP), established as a result of the Government’s 2007 “Digital Challenge”. Mr Irranca-Davies will visit St Cuthbert’s Catholic Community College for Business & Enterprise in St Helens where pupils and parents have been using the managed computing service provided by the Community Grid project since May 2007. As part of the wider DIEP, strategically supported by the GMDDA, AIMES will provide access for around 5,000 homes in the Greater Merseyside region via the Community Grid system over a 2 year period from May 2008.
- The EverybodyOnline Liverpool 8 project is another highly successful digital inclusion initiative focusing on internet and digital technology support for parents. It includes use of the internet, and day-to-day skills such as shopping and banking online, and email. Mr Irranca-Davies will visit a PACT (Parents & Children Together) session at South Liverpool Personnel in Liverpool to speak to users direct.
Don’t forget i-techpartner eServices Forum tomorrow! June 2, 2008
Posted by Rich Spragg in AIMES, Business, Entrepreneurship, European Commission, Events, International Trade, Internet, Knowledge Transfer, Liverpool, Merseyside, Merseyside ICT, News, North West England, Research, Social Networking, Technology, Technology Transfer, Web 2.0, i-techpartner.add a comment
The i-techpartner eServices Forum is taking place this week at the new Liverpool Convention Centre.
The event builds on the success of the 2007 i-techpartner Academy at Daresbury Innovation Centre where over 120 delegates attended, including researchers, small businesses, innovation experts and investors.
Focussing on the areas of web services, mobile applications, web 2.0, software as a service and more, the eServices Forum will be of interest to you if you are:
- an innovative ICT/digital small business looking to grow your business
- a researcher from a university or research institute looking to commercialise your research
- a venture fund or business angel looking for investment opportunities in eServices
- an expert in technology transfer, innovation or business growth
The event is being held on Tuesday 3rd and Wednesday 4th June, more information on our previous story or on the i-techpartner website
Wireless Cities initiative hits Liverpool February 8, 2008
Posted by Rich Spragg in Broadband, Business, Capital of Culture, Flexible Working, GMDDA, Liverpool, Local Authorities, News, wi-fi.5 comments
BT has launched an extensive Wireless Broadband (Wi-Fi) network with coverage across Liverpool city centre – from Pembroke Place, west of Liverpool University, down to the Three Graces, across to the Albert Dock and up to Rodney Street. See the full coverage here:
http://www.btwireless.bt.com/availability_liverpool.html
BT has worked in partnership with Liverpool City Council to deliver the network. They are also working together to investigate a range of applications to improve key services addressing areas such as traffic management, environmental services and tourism. Included at launch is a facility that allows citizens and visitors to Liverpool free access to the City Council web sites, Liverpool Business and What’s on 08 – free to anyone logging on to the wireless service in the Wireless Liverpool area (Charges apply for BT Openzone and require Wi-Fi enabled equipment for usage).
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