Member Article

Sunderland wins £3m to tackle digital divide

On 13 March Sunderland was unveiled as the winner of Communities and Local Government’s Digital Challenge competition and will receive £3m to deliver its plans for a digitally enabled community that will benefit some of the most vulnerable and socially excluded people in the area. As the winner of the Digital Challenge, Sunderland is now recognised as an example in how ICT technologies can be used to tackle social exclusion.

Sunderland’s proposals will see its community benefiting from a number of initiatives such as Community e-Champions working in their local area to help vulnerable people access computer and internet services, helping children at risk of underachieving at Key Stage 3 and an e-mentoring scheme working for children and young people. The bid will also meet the needs of carers and looked-after children through walkie talkies and panic buttons.

Angela Smith, Minister for Local e-Government, said: “Digital Inclusion is about more than new technologies. It is an opportunity to solve problems and improve the lives of people in our communities. As the winner of the Digital Challenge, Sunderland should be seen as an example of how the social and digital divide can be bridged and serve as a blueprint for local partnerships for the future.

Communities and Local Government has also launched a new look Digital Challenge & Inclusion Network website at Sunderland and the ‘Digital Landscape’ document – a snapshot of projects pushing the digital agenda across the UK.

For further information on Sunderland’s bid go to www.sunderland.gov.uk/wherepeoplematter, and for information about the Digital Challenge and the other nine national finalists visit www.digitalchallenge.gov.uk.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .