Council helps to bridge technology gap (From Tivyside Advertiser)

Council helps to bridge technology gap

11:40am Tuesday 31st March 2009

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Comments(0)

Council chiefs in Carmarthenshire are helping to deliver the digital revolution in the county.

A major new project has been launched to tackle digital exclusion and help people access new technology.

The Wales Co-operative Centre has just been awarded a contract to deliver the Communities 2.0 initiative.

The six year project will provide community groups, social enterprises and individuals across Wales with all the support they need to use new technologies.

Carmarthenshire County Council is part of the consortium set up to lead the project.

Officers with long standing expertise in business support and community development, will work to help grassroots organisations in the area, together with groups and individuals in deprived areas of the county.

They will also head up new initiatives to digitally connect communities to government services.

The council’s Regeneration Executive Board Member cllr Clive Scourfield said: "The council is committed to providing business support to community groups and voluntary organisations and we look forward to this project, which will help to bridge the digital divide in the county.

"It is essential that people are given support to access new technology and this scheme will bring major economic benefits to many in Carmarthenshire."

The Wales Co-operative Centre will work in partnership with the County Council, the University of Glamorgan, Novas Scarman, and the Pembrokeshire Association of Voluntary Services to deliver the project. The programme will build on the Welsh Assembly Government’s successful Communities @One initiative.

Deputy Minister for Regeneration Leighton Andrews said: "I look forward to working with the consortium to deliver Communities 2.0.

"I hope we will develop a more co-ordinated approach to digital inclusion and to work with community groups and voluntary organisations to help them engage with technologies.

"We will also help new and existing social enterprises to engage with ICT by providing training, mentoring and business support."

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Comments(0)