The competitive part of the UK Government's Digital Challenge ended yesterday with the announcement that Sunderland had won against nine other finalists. Attention now shifts to the other part of the programme - developing a wider network for public bodies, nonprofits and companies concerned to promote digital inclusion. The government has said the programme will be a testbed for the way that £14.5 billion of public funds is spent on future service delivery ... so there is a wider significance.
Sunderland wins £3 million pounds for a proposal which, the press release says:
... 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.
After the announcement I pulled three members of the winning team away from the champagne, and asked Deborah Young and Dave Shovlin, from the City Council, and Jackie Noonan, of Sunderland Community Network, what was special about the bid. They emphasised partnership working, and focussing on what people really wanted rather than what the technology could - in theory - deliver. There was a request from some school children for a digital dog translation programme (help us understand what our dog is barking) that they couldn't deliver, but felt that most other interests would be served.
At the lunch, where Local e-government Minister Angela Smith made the announcement, I was sitting with the Manchester team, who were naturally disappointed not to win, but got some small consolation in being named as runners-up. No-one could explain what that meant in practice - no plaque, no special funding - but I sense that it could be a smart move on the part of the judges. The Manchester team leader Dave Carter has been strongly promoting the idea that, whoever wins, the ten finalists - and others - should work together collaboratively on innovative digital inclusion projects. I'm sure Dave and the others in Manchester will follow through on that.
One of the other favourites was Bristol, but there again I'm sure the lack of a prize won't hold things up. Stephen Hilton and his team have a reputation for just getting on with things, and I suspect that their bid was largely a wrapper for lots of things they were going to do anyway.
However, there was a pleasant surprise for those who didn't win, because the Minister and the Digital Challenge team at the Department for Communities and Local Government, led by Stephen Dodson, had managed to find another £2 million to split among the nine. The competition helped generate some fresh ideas, partnerships and engagement ... this additional funding should help maintain that momentum.
- The Digital Challenge Inclusion Network site
- The Sunderland winning bid
- Other coverage of Digital Challenge
Previously here
- Local tech planning with a pack of cards
- Bridging the people-technology divide ... with a few bits of paper
- Digital Challenge programme seen as £14.5 bn testbed
- Competing councils form a collaborative alliance
- Digital divide in the era of social networking
Technorati Tags: nptech, nptechuk, digitaldivide, socialtech
It was great to see my co-workers form Sunderland win the challenge. On a personal note I think its worth pointing out that all those involved in the 10 bids put a great deal of time and effort into the mountain of work needed to complete a bid.
I think it just shows how much can be achieved through ICT and that local government and its partners are full of good hardworking people.
Posted by: chris | March 14, 2007 at 08:32 PM
Hi Chris - thanks for that.. and I agree that one of the great things about Digital Challenge is that it brings out the best in people (and the best people)
Is there a Sunderland project blog?
Posted by: David Wilcox | March 14, 2007 at 09:27 PM
i have been following you progress vis the internet, i work for a regeneration project are putting together there own ccb project at the moment and would be greatfull for any good parctice assistance you would be able to offer in this field
Posted by: Russ | April 19, 2007 at 10:38 AM
Russ - the planning games over at http://www.usefulgames.co.uk might help
Posted by: David Wilcox | April 19, 2007 at 02:11 PM