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PIONEERING PROJECTS REACH NATIONAL AWARD SHORTLIST
Added: (Thu May 15 2003)
PIONEERING PROJECTS REACH NATIONAL AWARD SHORTLIST
An anti-bullying network for schoolchildren and parents, a health-monitoring device for remote communities, and an advice portal for small businesses are among the projects short-listed for a national award for their innovative use of technology.
These are some of the 100+ projects entered by local authorities, businesses and voluntary sector organisations for the eWell-Being Awards - developed by SustainIT and supported by BT - the UK’s first accolade to identify and promote the environmental, economic and social benefits of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT).
In the digital inclusion category, sponsored by BT, four groundbreaking initiatives were short-listed. Each provides an inspirational service to disadvantaged groups who usually have little access to IT:
An empowering IT skills project for Scotland’s elderly run by Age Concern Edinburgh; a national online anti-bullying resource for parents, pupils and schools from charity Bullying Online; a network of inclusive IT facilities for Wiltshire’s disabled community from charity SCAMP; and an internet access project for socially excluded young people from charity YouthNet UK.
The eGovernment category, sponsored by the Improvement and Development Agency, is open to national, regional and local government, and recognises projects using ICT to deliver better public services. Three outstanding projects made it onto the shortlist:
A Telecare initiative from Liverpool City Council to monitor the welfare of citizens in sheltered accommodation, residential care and private homes; a community care project from Charing Cross Hospital and Imperial College London, using electronic devices to enable safer, more secure living for the elderly community; and a project from the London Borough of Newham, enabling social housing applicants to choose their homes.
Two categories reward projects using ICT to reduce environmental and transport impact - Environmental Efficiency, sponsored by UK CEED, and Mobility, sponsored by the Automobile Association. The judges short-listed five projects across the two categories:
A technology-based abandoned vehicle project from Liverpool City Council; a national construction waste management initiative from the Building Research Establishment; an interactive one-stop-shop providing Kent-based SMEs with practical advice on sustainable business practice; and a forest management geographical information system from the Forestry Commission; and a Telecentre project from Nottinghamshire County Council.
Finally, in the Wireless category, sponsored by Vodafone, rewarding projects that deliver benefits to society through wireless technology, three entries were short-listed:
VitalLink, a remote medical monitoring device for isolated communities from TeleMedic Systems; the Manx Telecomputer Bus, a mobile classroom providing ICT access to schoolchildren on the Isle of Man; and a parking control project using integrated software from Liverpool City Council.
Professor Peter James, director of SustainIT said: “The eWell-Being Awards judges faced a difficult decision, but feel that the 15 short-listed projects represent the very best and most innovative examples of the use of technology to benefit society and the environment. This year saw over 100 entries - twice as many as 2002, the awards’ inaugural year - so we look forward to hearing about even more inspiring and ground-breaking projects next year.”
Adrian Hosford, director of social policy at BT said: “Our support for the eWell-Being Awards is an important part of our commitment to digital inclusion. We recognise the vital role that communications technology is playing in providing tangible social, environmental and economic benefits, and hope the short-listed projects will inspire other organisations to enter the awards in future.”
Winning projects will be announced at an awards ceremony in London's Living Room at City Hall, the home of the London Mayor and London Assembly, on Tuesday 10 June 2003.
For further information about the awards, please contact Hugh Knowles or Simon Hills, tel: 01733 311644, email: awards@sustainit.org