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News archive UK online centres in Euro celebration A UK government IT initiative has been short-listed for a prestigious European E-government Award, along with other flagship public sector projects from across the continent. The European E-government Awards celebrate best practice in the design and delivery of online government services, and will be presented at the Ministerial E-government Conference in Lisbon later this month. UK online centres and myguide were put forward for the ‘Social impact and cohesion’ Award by the Department for Education and Skills (DfES), now the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills and the Department for Children, Families and Schools. Helen Milner is Managing Director of UK online centres. She said: “I’m delighted UK online centres and myguide have been shortlisted for this award, and recognised on a European stage. I believe that together they are not only a unique public asset, but also rather uniquely British. IT initiatives - and government IT initiatives in particular – often get a bad rep in this country, but there are very few places in the world that would invest in a public resource to improve digital and social equity on quite this scale. I think we should be proud of that, and I’m certainly proud to be representing the UK in Lisbon. It’s not the World Cup, but it’s a chance to show the EU that we’re a champion public-service player!”
The 6,000 strong network of UK online centres across England were set up by the then DfES in 2000 to provide public access to computers. In turn, myguide began life as a DfES and DTI (Department of Trade and Industry) project, with the aim to make the internet accessible to all. It’s now the main tool used by UK online centres to help hard-to-reach audiences take their first steps online – and onto government services – all from a simple, personalised homepage. Responsibility for the network of UK online centres and for the development of myguide was handed to Ufi - the organisation also behind learndirect - and is now being taken forward by a dedicated UK online centres team. Together, UK online centres and myguide are helping millions of previously excluded people take advantage of the benefits and opportunities computers and the internet can provide – from accessing online government services to sending email and finding information. New skills Minister David Lammy explained: “Technology has changed everyday life in so many ways. IT has penetrated working life, school life, and even social lives – changing how we communicate with each other and with the state. Those not taking part in the digital revolution for whatever reason are being increasingly left behind. The problem is that it’s those already at a disadvantage missing out – UK online centres research shows that a staggering 75% of socially excluded people are also digitally excluded. “There are often complex factors at work in exclusion – age, culture, disability, income, education or even attitude. Overcoming those barriers is key to creating a fairer and more equal society, and that’s the goal UK online centres and myguide are working towards. The network exploits IT to improve skills, individual lives, community cohesion and social inclusion. It’s great to see UK online centres and myguide taking their place in a short-list of the best practice e-government initiatives in Europe.” Ends For further information, please contact Abi Stevens on 0778 666 0689. Notes to editors |
