The Wired up Communities Initiative

Over the period 2000 to 2003, DfES has invested £10m from the Capital Modernisation Fund in the Wired up Communities initiative (WuC) to pilot the connection of around 12,000 homes in seven disadvantaged communities to the internet. The objective was to assess how individual access to the internet can transform opportunities for people living in these communities by developing new ways of accessing learning, work and leisure services.

The initiative used a variety of technologies (e.g. standard telephone lines, broadband technology, digital TV) to link households to the internet and in turn enable them to access a wide range of information and local and national services.

An additional £5m of DfES funding was invested (via the national e-learning foundation) to improve individual access to ICT for pupils attending schools in the WuC areas. In turn households and communities were encouraged to develop links with local schools to discover how the internet could help to deliver the national curriculum and to develop more general home/school links.

Work on the initiative has now been concluded and the Department has no plans for it to be extended. However, to ensure we get best value from our investment in the pilot projects, we commissioned consultants to draw together best practice and lessons learned.

The main vehicle for communicating this information is the Wired up Communities Practitioner’s Toolkit. The toolkit is a useful guide to planning, setting up and running a community based ICT project, whether it is in a deprived inner city area or a remote and isolated rural community. Aimed at community practitioners, local authorities, researchers and governmental policy makers, the toolkit draws upon the experience of the seven Wired up Community pilots.

In addition copies of a two CD video pack – one with a community and the other with a policy perspective have been produced. A free copy is available while stocks last. Details at http://www.intelligentcommunities.org.uk.

You can visit the individual Project websites below, or go in via the Toolkit.

Blackburn East WuC Internet Site:
http://www.beonline.org.uk

East Manchester WuC Internet Site:
http://www.eastserve.com

Framlingham WuC Internet Site:
http://www.suffolkonline.net

Alston WuC Internet Site:
http://www.cybermoor.org.uk/

Brampton WuC Internet Site:
http://www.pit2net.com

Newham WuC Internet site:
http://www.newham.org.uk/wired/