The EU Commission has recently launched the 6th call for proposals for ICT under FP7. The call is focused on projects that improve the competitiveness of European industry and enable Europe to master and shape future developments in ICT so that economic and social demands are met. The call covers the following challenges:

1) Cognitive systems, interaction, robotics;

2) Digital Libraries and content;

3) Towards sustainable and personalised healthcare;

4) ICT for mobility, environmental sustainability and energy efficiency;

5) Future and emerging technologies; and

6) Horizontal support actions.

The indicative budget for the call is €286 million and proposals should be sent by 13^th April 2010.

More information here

http://cordis.europa.eu/fp7/

According to Google’s annual zeitgeist report, Facebook is the UK’s most searched for website and fastest rising search term.  Thankfully, Twitter is yet to feature on the UK’s radar.  Meanwhile, the recession ensured that bargain hunting was alive and well in the UK, with people searching for cheap holiday options in particular.  Read the Google report - select United Kingdom from the Regional Home dropdown.

Silver Surfers’ Day is the largest, national, digital literacy campaign for older people in the UK. SSD provides local people and organisations with all the resources and support they need to open their doors to older people and offer them a taste of digital technology. The focus this year will be on  intergenerational SSD partnerships, particularly the ‘Schools for Silver Surfers’ initiative which resulted in 66 partnerships between local schools and sheltered housing schemes in 2009.

An updated Event Holders’ Planning Guide in will be published in January, but if you want to make a start now, the Event Holders’ Quick Guide is already available to download. To encourage other people to hold an event, there is also a Silver Surfers’ Day Flyer. Visit theSilver Surfers website for more information

Do you know a community or charitable organisation that is looking for IT equipment and wants to get online?

If so, they can apply for a BT Community Connections award today.

Almost any organisation, working in any field of community benefit, located anywhere within the United Kingdom or the Republic of Ireland can apply for a laptop and a year’s free broadband connection.  There is still time to apply for an award so to find out more, simply visit www.btcommunityconnections.com or call 0845 257 6792.

Please feel free to pass this information on to people involved with community organisations that are in your existing networks – just remember the deadline to apply falls on 7 January 2010.

Please note:

• Schools can apply at the Cluster Award level where up to five groups can apply together for work that encourages networking.  If successful, all member groups will receive additional IT equipment for use within their local communities.
• Applications are not accepted from companies that exist to trade for profit, Social Enterprises or Community Interest Companies, organisations that promote political parties and organisations that do not operate in the United Kingdom or the Republic of Ireland. 

The lastest newsletter from the Media Trust Community Voices team gives a round up of all the activities which are now racing ahead including :

To celebrate how digital media can give disadvantaged communities a voice, Media Trust has £500 awards to give between now and the end of March 2010. Find out more about the awards.

Did you know that Media Trust provides training specifically for charities and communities? Why not Get Podcasting in January.  Alternatively you can get a superb intro to web design in Jan or learn how to shoot, edit and distribute your own digital video in February.

Contact Community Channel to find out more about broadcasting opportunities for your video content. Get your voice heard and your story broadcast on air.

See online for more details here http://www.mediatrust.org/communityvoices

The Community Voices Team is here.  Contact them with any queries you have:

Call  020 7217 3751 or email
communityvoices@mediatrust.org
Read the blog
Become a fan on facebook
Follow on twitter
Join the Social by Social ning group

The latest edition of the NCVO ICT newsletter is now available here -

NCVO ICT newsletter

A major piece of research, commissioned by Media Trust, reveals there is an opportunity for Community Voices to add real value to current media activities within disadvantaged and isolated communities. We spoke to numerous community groups and stake holders through surveys and in depth consultations about how they use digital media within their community. The research aimed to get an overview of the success stories as well as identifying some of the biggest barriers that prevent disadvantaged communities from finding their voice. It demonstrated that there is a wide range of digital media already being used but there are also a number of challenges around information sharing and knowledge exchange, which has resulted in a lot of reinventing the wheel and a lack of sustainability.

In understanding how digital media can be both relevant to the community and can help empower the community itself, the report cautioned against a ‘one size fits all’ approach. Community Voices aims to address these barriers and build a lasting and sustainable legacy by inspiring communities to use digital media, engaging with them to develop the skills required to access the technology, and empowering them to take ownership of their voice and make themselves heard.

Download the research report.

A new computer aimed at people aged over 60 who are unfamiliar with PCs and the internet has been unveiled. The simplified Linux-based desktop – called SimplicITy – has just six buttons directing users to basic tasks such as e-mail and chat.

Read the story on the BBC website.

Digital communications agency Precedent Communications is offering £30,000-worth of its services as a competition prize for charities. The prize includes a new website, training and a digital strategy. To enter, Precedent is asking charities to post short videos on YouTube. Full details on the competition microsite.

Communications charity the Media Trust is also offering prizes to the runners-up, including free training in digital media.

A reminder first about the Knowledgebase system run by our friends over at LASA in London – its an excellent resource for third sector ICT generally and a great reference guide for all sorts of issues, so if you havent already used it, bookmarked it and recommended it to others please do!   www.ictknowledgebase.org.uk

Also, the system now incorporates a Forums section where discussions are already active on a range of subjects from ICT management to training, budgeting to social media and more.   www.ictknowledgebase.org.uk/forums