I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to present to the Enterprise Campaign Coalition meeting held at Google last Friday. It was an excellent chance to talk about social enterprise, our work at COSMIC and some of our projects including the Regional ICT Champion work and how important that is in encouraging third sector organisations to embrace new ICT and online systems.

A full report from the event is here www.socialenterpriseambbasadors.org.uk

I’ve been invited to be a guest blogger on Unltd World this week as part of their SHOUT out for Social Enterprise campaign. I’ve used the opportunity to encourage a debate about social enterprise delivering ICT support for third sector. Please join in here

http://unltdworld.com

The Nominet Trust, which was created in January 2008, with the declared aim of funding innovative Internet projects that make a positive difference to the lives of disadvantaged and vulnerable people, primarily in terms of education, safety and inclusion, has announced that it has made its first grants. Organisations that have been funded include:

• The British Computer Society of the Blind
• Cambridge Global Grid for Learning
• Cambridge Library Learning Service
• Children, Internet Society
• Youthnet

The Trust was initially awarded £5 million from Nominet, the Internet registry for UK domains and will provide grants to organisations that can show that their innovative IT-related projects can make a positive difference to disadvantaged and vulnerable groups – in the UK, developing countries and around the world.

Organisations wishing to apply need initially to complete and online eligibility questionnaire.

Those organisations deemed successful will be provided with a link to a more detailed application form. Grant application will be considered by the board of trustees.

They will next meet in November 2009.

Applicants will hear from the Trust in the month following each meeting.

http://www.nominettrust.org.uk/index.php

Individuals clubs and organisations, etc, in rural areas that need access to information and services, are able to purchase fully functioning ex-government computers for as little as £99. The computers are being made available through the Arthur Rank Centre. This is a collaborative unit supported by the National Churches, the Royal Agricultural Society of England and the Rank Foundation. For organisations that need more than one computer; e.g. for a Drop-in centre, School etc. the prices are even lower.

http://www.arthurrankcentre.org.uk/projects/computers_for_rural_people/index.html

As part of its White Paper, “The Learning Revolution” the Government is inviting local partnerships in disadvantaged communities to apply for funding of up to £30,000 to promote informal adult learning through locally based Community Learning Champion (CLC) initiatives. The funding aims to support the establishment of new Community Learning Champions schemes in areas where there is a high level of need. It can also support Community Learning Champions schemes that focus their work on particular groups who are currently excluded from learning. It will support schemes that will work to increase participation in informal learning among adults aged 19+. A Community Learning Champion promotes the value of learning to others – friends, relatives, and workmates – and encourages them to get involved. A Community Learning Champion is often someone who has experienced learning that has made a positive change in their own life. The funding is available to public, private and voluntary and third sector organisations working in partnerships.

The closing date for applications is the 28th October 2009.

For more information on which areas in England are eligible to apply and how to make an application please click on the link below.

http://www.communitylearningchampions.org.uk/development_fund.php

I attended this event yesterday at Creech St Michael Village Hall and found it very useful and worthwhile. A great opportunity to meet new people in the funding advisor world, to promote work as Regional ICT Champion and to remind them of my work and how I can help to improve skills and understanding. I particularly encouraged them to improve understanding of social media and its use in fundraising and funding work – suggesting that funding advisors can’t do their work without knowing about the use of social media. I am hoping that this will stimulate further discussion and interest – and some workshops!

Also at the event was Muhammad Ali from CEMVO who did a great keynote speech on his work across private sector, public sectors and his role at CEMVO. Very inspiring and entertaining.

Another useful update was provided by Ann Stafford from IT4Communities – reminding organisations of the value of professional volunteers which IT4C can match to organisations and projects.

Our good friend Louise Brown over at NCVO has published their latest newsletter with lots of updates, informaiton and useful advice – here’s the link to the online verison

NCVO ICT Newsletter

Age Concern and Help the Aged have launched their search for internet champions this week and are seeking someone to act as a Champion for the 6.4 million people over 65 who have never used the internet before.

More information here – www.ageconcern.org.uk/AgeConcern/internet-champion-release-210909.asp

This scheme is in its 5th year, and the second round has recently opened.

BT Community Connections is an award scheme which enables community and charitable organisations to get online and make use of information and communication technology (ICT).

Groups can apply for a laptop and a year’s free broadband connection.  There are more than 1,000 award packages available to give to groups who can demonstrate how an award will benefit their work and the local community.

Those who have never benefited from the scheme before can apply for the laptop and broadband connection and past winners and/or new applicants can now apply together to form a cluster application.

A copy of the flyer and further information can be found here -

www.btcommunityconnections.com

First Light is the UK’s leading initiative enabling young people to realise their potential via creative digital film and media projects.

Funded through the UK Film Council and directly from the Department for Children, Schools and Families we administer over £5m each year, funding young people’s creativity, giving them a voice and ensuring they are seen and heard. The films and media projects our young people create cover many topics and genres, and make use of today’s accessible digital technologies to tell their stories with them in control.

First Light operates a number of youth funding schemes including:

The Young Film Fund, is the UK Film Council’s Lottery funded filmmaking initiative for five to 19 year olds to make short films with professional support (funds available range from £3,000-£30,000). The criteria has recently been updated to make it easier to apply,  for more information about new guidelines, reductions to our match funding requirements, criteria and information on how to apply, go to http://www.firstlightonline.co.uk/

Mediabox is a Department for Children, Schools and Families fund to help young people have a positive voice in the media. It offers disadvantaged 13-19 year olds the opportunity to develop and produce creative media projects, using film, print, television, radio or online platforms. There are grants of up to £40,000 available now. In August we launched a new fund “Mix Mediabox” which will support young people to explore themes of community cohesion (funding from £5,000 – £20,000). Mediabox funds are open to organisation who have applied for Mediabox funding in the past. For more information about new guidelines visit http://www.media-box.co.uk/
We are also arranging a series of regional funding advice road shows, if you are interested in attending an event or applying to our new rounds of funding please visit the appropriate website for further details:

MEDIABOX funding http://www.media-box.co.uk/
THE YOUNG FILM FUND http://www.firstlightonline.co.uk