I am only just able to raise my head above the sea of emails on this subject long enough to write about it all. There has been alot of discussion online and in meetings nationally about this programme since the CLG launched an invitation for Expressions of Interest to deliver the programme over the next two years. 

Digital Mentors, an idea launched in the Empowerment White Paper earlier this year, and intended to give a voice to members of deprived and disadvantaged communities through the use of ICT and social media. The Department for Communities and Local Government have now launched a tender for an organisation to act as project co-ordinator to run some Digital Mentor demonstrators and there’s been a huge amount of discussion about how this should develop on http://digitalmentor.org/ 

UK Online and Citizens Online are working together to develop a bid, and there will no doubt be many others looking at this opportunity to play a key role in the digital inclusion agenda in the coming years.

I have been discussing with the other Regional ICT Champions and our co-ordinator at NAVCA how we might work together on this programme and support the development of a national network of community-based digital mentors through the existing networks across the third sector. Tomorrow (Wednesday 19th) there is a meeting in London for those who are interested in submitting an EOI and our group will be represented at this meeting. 

Please let me know if anyone out there in South West is interested in this programme and potentially playing a role in support and/or delivery.