The St Helens Community Grid project won Best Information & Communication Technology Initiative at this year’s APSE Service Awards 2008 for local government.

Local Government Minister, John Healey, paid tribute to the finalists commenting that “Councils have an ever important task of improving services, neighbourhoods and opportunities for their residents, listening to local people along the way. Awards that recognise councils and their staff for their success - such as APSE’s Service Awards - help encourage and reward ambition in local government to deliver the best it can be. I congratulate this year’s winners on their contribution to their authority and
their local area”.

Paul O’Brien, APSE Chief Executive, told guests “You have much to be proud of in local government. Many councils did not make it to the finals – those of you here tonight show the level of drive and commitment to public services that must be celebrated. By embracing excellence we can continue to drive forward those doorstep public services that improve the daily lives of people living in our communities.”

The APSE Service Awards 2008 followed the APSE Annual Seminar held over two days in Nottingham, which was opened by DCLG Minister John Healey. APSE (the Association for Public Service Excellence), is a not for profit body specialising in support to councils delivering front line local government services.

Pictured here collecting the award are (left to right), former UK Tennis Champion, Annabel Croft, who was presenting the awards ceremony, Prof. Dennis Kehoe from AIMES, Jonathon Greenough from St Helens Council and a representative from Consilium Technologies (who sponsored the award).

The government has pledged £30m of funding over the next three years to help school pupils from low income families gain home broadband access.

The plan will allow pupils to access school work and resources - such as downloading and storing homework - and get feedback from teachers at home.

In his speech at education tech show, Bett 2008, minister for schools and learners Jim Knight said: “We have the highest levels of embedded technology in classrooms in European Union and one computer for every three pupils. The next step is home access for all.”

He warned the digital divide cannot be allowed to “reinforce social and academic divisions” and said: “We have to find a way to make access universal, or else it’s not fair.”

Read the full article on Silicon.com

AIMES has played a key role in the development of a unique digital inclusion project to deliver free computing and internet access to 250 homes in the Parr area of St Helens.

The project, which is a collaboration between AIMES, Helena Housing and St Cuthbert’s Catholic Community College for Business and Enterprise in Parr, will provide 250 families with a keyboard, screen and a small, lightweight computing device called a ‘thin client’ which will allow them to plug in and access the service and use a raft of different software packages. The connectivity to the home from the network is provided wirelessly.

“The pilot is the first step towards our vision of a ‘Community Grid’ across Merseyside, providing easy access to the Internet and low-cost computing for all,” says Project Manager Marie Messenger from AIMES.

St Cuthbert’s has provided a list of 250 pupils – half of which are clients of Helena Housing - who have no computer or internet access in the home. These pupils and their families will be able to use this service over a twelve month period. The hardware for the project is being provided free of charge.

Says Marie Messenger: “The cost of access is a barrier to digital inclusion, but just as important is ease of access. The provision of a managed service at home means that the user has to do no more than switch on and log in. With this centrally hosted service, all people have to do is switch on and everything will be there for them.”

Each home linked up to the service will have broadband internet access and a range of software packages. Children will also have access to the software they use at school, to continue projects at home and extend their computer skills and understanding. Everything will be linked through a community portal which will also provide easy access to useful local information for the whole family, for example on health provision or housing.

“Having access to a computer at home gives children a major advantage in their education,” said AIMES director, Professor Dennis Kehoe. “And adults who lack computer literacy and knowledge of basic software packages are more likely to be excluded from the jobs market. The internet can also help to combat isolation and increase a sense of community, particularly for the elderly, infirm or housebound. The aim of the Community Grid is to bridge this digital divide, to ensure that everyone can have affordable access to the benefits of computing.”

The pilot will run for 12 months and AIMES will be meeting regularly with users to ensure evolving community needs and interests are incorporated into the project. Further pilots are planned with other key user groups, including Registered Social Landlords, community groups and public sector organisations.

For further information please contact Marie Messenger at AIMES on 0151 795 0105