Archive for the ‘Inclusion’ Category

Digital Birmingham attended the launch and networking session of the European Competitiveness and Innovation ICT Policy Support Programme (CIP-ICT-PSP) in Brussels back in April.
The team are busy leading on a €2M EU match funding bid focused on developing digital skills and competencies for carers, as well as being a partner on the Digital Cities in Europe – Lifelong Learning Programme.
We successfully ran two workshops this month, one involving formal and informal carers and the other involving experts within the arena, in order to carry out research to put into this bid.
The bid is due to be submitted shortly- watch this space for further developments and updates.

2011 UK Census

I had a meeting at the end of last year with a colleague who is working on promoting this year’s census. The census collects data that a lot of government funding is based on (as well as being an opportunity for deeply conformist types to think they are sticking it to the man) and so councils are obviously keen to ensure that as many people fill it in as possible. This year’s census is the first one that can be completed online, which is one reason why my colleague was interested in how she might promote it through social media

More – Promoting the census with social media

Congratulations to a Midlands digital project which has been awarded an international ‘Car Magazine of the Year’ award at the Digital Magazine Awards, judged by Microsoft,
Yudu, The Telegraph, Quark and WIRED magazine.

The RubberDuckMag, was the only award-winner from the Midlands, and is leading the way in its interactive functions, but also embraces sign language.

A new Fab report has been released showing digital engagement with Arts & Culture.  This is the first time this type of information has been collected in the UK.  Well done to Arts & Business, Arts Council and MLA.  Findings show that a whopping 53% of us have used the internet to engage with the arts and cultural sector in the last 12 months digital-engagement-with-arts-culture-nov-2010

6 October 2010 – Rich Mix, London E1

See IT in action demonstrates how councils and partners can use technology to transform the delivery of public services, improve outcomes, and help achieve more for less.

This is a free event, on Wednesday 6 October 2010, supported by Communities and Local Government, local authorities and civil society partners.

It is a must-attend day for all those who commission or manage local public services, who are looking to make their work more efficient, cheaper, and targeted at supporting those most in need. It is your opportunity to ensure you are ready, well informed and have the contacts necessary to meet the challenges facing those delivering today’s public services.

For more information and to register, please click here.

I received a fab little video this morning from LGTV in which Martha Lane Fox was being interviewed on the benefits of being digitally included, as part of her ‘Race Online’ campaign.  Its great to see someone so close to Central Government sending out such powerful messages. Take a look at the full interview here

The Central Birmingham Social Media Surgery are monthly events held to help community and voluntary groups use the social web to benefit their organisations.

Digital Birmingham are pleased to announce that the next events are due to take place on:

7 July – at the Balsall Health Forum, The Tree Nursery, 82-89 St. Pauls Road, Balsall Heath, Birmingham. B12 8LS  between 6.00pm and 7.30pm.

15 July -  at the Studio, 7 Cannon Street, off New Street, Birmingham. B2 5EP between 5.30pm and 7.00pm.

To sign up for either of these events, please click here.

Birmingham City University are hosting a one day digital participation seminar on 19th July.

It intends to provide a forum for discussion of the meaning and measurability of Digital Participation, focusing on the three main measurables promoted by the Digital Participation Consortium – Reach, Breadth, Depth.

It will include contributions from Ofcom, following publication of their initial statistics bulletin on digital participation. In addition it will hear about the role of the UK Research Council funded Digital Economy Hub at Newcastle University and from the Arts Council and Audiences Central on the experience they have in measuring participation in the arts. More – Measuring the Unmeasurable: Digital Participation Seminar

Silver Surfers’ Day is the biggest, national campaign to promote use of digital technologies by older people. It is run by Digital Unite and was started in 2002, this is the ninth annual event.

On Silver Surfers’ Day Digital Unite support people and organisations all over the UK to open their doors and give local older people a taste of what the digital world has to offer them at a Silver Surfers’ Day Event.

Anyone can become an Event Holder – if you’re already working with older people, if you are passionate about supporting them to be digitally literate, then this is an event for you!

For more information and to find an event near you, please go to the Digital Unite webpage.