| Here at Connect, we have been
delighted and feel privileged to have
taken part since 2003 in the ePower
project in Gateshead. The project was
originally funded by a joint
Treasury/Cabinet Office initiative,
the Invest to Save Budget (ISB), and
provided training and software to
community groups to encourage the
Gateshead community and voluntary
sector to take advantage of the
opportunities offered by ICT and the
Internet. Connect provided each of the 50 ePower community groups with a web-based website creation package, ‘SiteMaker’, enabling the groups to create their own websites, as well as a project portal, linking to all the groups. Community organisations taking part in the initiative include youth groups, health organisations, charities and education service providers. Unfortunately, we heard that there is no further funding available after 31st March 2007 to support the provision of ConnectSitemaker websites for the ePower community groups. As a company, we are keenly aware of our corporate social responsibility, and are committed to supporting the community. As such we are pleased to announce that we will provide the ePower project community groups with their ConnectSitemaker account and website free of charge for the next twelve months. Carole Boardman, ‘Director, Public Sector’ says “We have worked closely with Gateshead Council and the groups themselves to develop the awareness, skills and capacity within the third sector to take advantage of Internet technology, and know that the project has provided real benefits to community groups. We want to continue to support the groups in their community efforts, and this is one small way we can assist them” | More on ePower |
