Policy Context and Legal Framework

Communities First is the Welsh Assembly Government's programme for targeting poverty and deprivation in the most deprived areas across Wales.

The Welsh Assembly Government wished to try and prevent an increasing gap between the digitally included and excluded. Communities @One aims to help contribute to meeting the European target of reducing digital exclusion by 50% by 2010.

Communities @One has been independently evaluated (see Additional Documents). The evaluation has described the work of the advisory panel as important for the development and delivery of the programme, and as a model of good practice; the way Communities @One engages with broader policy issues has been described as influential on an all-Wales level; the role of the Brokers and the grant-making process has been described as good practice; and the engagement of a range of external organisations with expertise and experience of digital inclusion has been described as exemplary in many ways.

Implementation and Management Approach

Although the Programme is “owned” by the Department for Social Justice and Local Government of the Welsh Assembly Government, which was the applicant for the ERDF funding, the management and delivery of the Programme were contracted out through a public procurement process to the Wales Co-operative Centre, a not-for-profit organisation whose main remit is the promotion of social enterprise. This has worked well in practice.

Technology solution

The aim of the project is to encourage people to engage with technologies (ICT, digital cameras, mobile phones etc.,) in ways that are relevant to their lives. Individual projects with community and voluntary sector groups are therefore funded accordingly. For example, projects include community groups developing local community radio stations; the Air Training Corps building their own flight simulators; computer repair workshops. Voluntary sector groups are involved in digital photography and digital storytelling.

Impact

To date, over 200 projects with a diverse range of community and voluntary sector groups and organisations have each been grant funded by Communities @One, from <200 to <500,000. Many of the 18,000 beneficiaries of the 200+ projects may not necessarily access formal education and learning opportunities.

Communities @One's methodology is to use a community development approach, which has succeeded in engaging people in ICT in ways that they find relevant to their lives.

Track record of sharing

The project has brought together networks of local community groups and voluntary sector organisations to share good practice. The project has run workshops on, for example, Online Safety. The project has brought together large voluntary sector organisations across Wales to share practice and discuss collaboration around digital inclusion.

Approaches to work have been shared with the Communities First programme of the Welsh Assembly Government. Good practice has been shared with voluntary, statutory and private sector organisations in England as well as the devolved administrations of Scotland and Northern Ireland; this has included exchange visits as well as speaking at events etc.

One visit has been made to Brussels, where, at an event organised by the European Commission, organisations across Europe were made aware of the work of Communities @One. A website has been established which will complement ongoing efforts to promote the work of Communities @One on a wider scale, while enabling funded projects to network 'virtually'. This website will carry a number of case studies which are being developed on key Communities @One projects, and summaries will exist for all 200+ projects.

Lessons learnt

Lesson 1 - Any initiative has to be thoroughly discussed through, in advance, with partners and other interested bodies.

Lesson 2 - An advisory body comprising voluntary, statutory and private sector organisations working collaboratively to one end, without hierarchy, can provide a dynamic and creative environment, as well as providing wise counsel.

Lesson 3 - A process of constant reflection and self-criticism is an essential ingredient for identifying issues, weaknesses and problems. It is necessary to listen to feedback to shape the direction of future policy.