The city council'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 a walkie talkie and panic buttons.
The Digital Challenge saw cities, towns and regions outline their strategies for a digitally enabled society designed to better meet the needs of local communities and citizens. Since the finalists were announced last year, the ten regional partnerships have been working together and have formed the DC10.
Funding for the Digital Challenge, totalling some £5.5M comes from a range of Government departments. Sunderland receives £3.5M with £2M for the continuing work of the DC10. The DC-10 group will continue to work together with central government and the Digital Challenge winner to progress the use of digital technologies to tackle social exclusion and continue to be exemplars in this field. The participants believe that this collaboration will lead to ways of working that will promote digital inclusion across the UK.
"Digital Inclusion is about more than new technologies," Minister for Local e-Government, Angela Smith, said. "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."
DCLG 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, the Digital Challenge and the other nine national finalists please visit http://www.digitalchallenge.gov.uk
The ten members of the DC10 are:
The Virtual District of Stratford-upon-Avon - Stratford on Avon District CouncilCity and Rural Communities Using IT - Birmingham City Council (Lead Authority) & Shropshire County Council
My Norfolk - Norfolk County Council on behalf of the Norfolk Ambition County Strategic Partnership
Sunderland - Where people matter - Sunderland City Council
Success Through Diversity Enabled by Digital Innovation - Ealing Council
Connecting Bristol - Building Momentum for Change - Bristol City Council on behalf of Connecting Bristol and the Momentum Group
Connected Nottingham - Nottingham City & Nottinghamshire County Council
STREAM - Transforming Neighbourhoods - Kingston Upon Hull City Council
Digital MK - Milton Keynes Council
One-Manchester - Manchester City Council, in partnership with Tameside MBC
