ruralnet|uk news

Baring Foundation backs ICT Collaboration Project

Rural development charity, ruralnet|uk, has won £14,500 in its recent bid to the Baring Foundation, to support an action research project on ICT for collaboration. The funding comes from the Foundation’s ‘Strengthening the Voluntary Sector’ programme, and will help to develop an understanding of how ICT helps organisations work together.

National Association of Local Councils (NALC) launches new online networking

ruralnet|uk is today pleased to launch NALC Online – the new online network for the National Association of Local Councils (NALC).  This secure online area will be used by members of NALC throughout the UK to share information and access resources including Experts Online - the panel of experts who will answer questions on various topics, xPRESS Digest - the daily regeneration and funding news e-bulletin, and shared areas tailored to NALC’s needs.

ruralnet|uk celebrates the launch of a new office in London

ruralnet|uk, the rural regeneration charity today announced expansion with a new office in London. With ruralnet|uk's profile growing each year, the premises at 1 London Bridge will be ideal as a base for meeting those based in or visiting London.

With its headquarters in Stoneleigh (the National Agricultural Centre), Warwickshire, ruralnet|uk was founded in 1986 as part of the Royal Agricultural Society of England. It is now an independent charity, which promotes a living and working countryside. It does this through helping rural communities to sustain themselves, through community development approaches, by working with partners and stakeholders, and by bringing specialist skills in the appropriate use of Information, Communication and Collaboration Technologies (ICTs).

ruralnet|uk's experience in UK online centres and service delivery falls on fertile ground in China

ruralnet|uk's Business Development Manager, Jane Berry, returned this week from China, following an invitation to join a delegation of UK Social Entrepreneurs. The trip was organised by Global Links Initiative (GLI) and was supported by the British Consulate-General, Shanghai. Three leading Social Entrepreneurs were selected to represent different approaches to UK Social Enterprise and different target groups. With the emerging third sector in China developing fast, the visit created enormous interest and culminated in seminars, attended by not-for-profits (NPOs), national and local government representatives and the media, and was hosted by the British Council China NPO Network in Beijing, and the YMCA in Shanghai.

ruralnet|uk's Chief Executive launches wirksworth.net

http://www.wirksworth.net/ is the next logical step for a Derbyshire Dales community that is already in the lead. In November 2003 the community was successful in securing a £30,000 grant under the RABBIT Scheme to link businesses and household using wireless broadband technology. Households and businesses in the town can now choose to access the internet using ADSL or to connect using the wireless system provided by Zycomm Electronics. The wireless system also reaches the outlying areas which are beyond the reach of ADSL. At the launch Simon Berry said,

"Once you have it, technology doesn't matter, it's what the people and the community do with it that counts. wirksworth.net is one of the first steps to effective use of the technology for everyone in Wirksworth and the surrounding areas."

CBN Goes Independent

The Community Broadband Network has moved into its second phase of development as an independent co-operative of local broadband projects and their supporters. Project partner ruralnet|uk will continue to play a key role in CBN providing on-line technology and support and running the CBN DirectSupport mentoring service for rural communities.

ruralnet|uk ready to play a part in Rural Strategy 2004

The rural regeneration charity, ruralnet|uk looks forward to playing its part in the implementation of the new agenda for the delivery of rural services presented to Parliament today by Margaret Beckett, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

'We are keen to broaden the high-value support we provide to rural communities by working within the new delivery framework,' said Simon Berry, ruralnet|uk's chief executive.

'In line with the Rural Strategy, we look forward to working closely with the regions, as we already do with Farming and Food West Midlands and the West Midlands Rural Affairs Forum. We particularly welcome proposals to involve the voluntary and community sector more, in both consultation and in delivery of services.

'In addition, we believe that our forthcoming conference, ruralnet|2004, will offer the opportunity for participants to explore further many of the issues discussed in the strategy.'

Internet achievement award for ruralnet|uk online expert

Mark Harrison, the Chairman of the community broadband initiative, 3-C, and broadband expert for ruralnet|uk's Experts Online panel has been recognised for his work as the largest not-for-profit broadband supplier in West Yorkshire. The 'Internet Achievement Award' was presented to Mark at the Digital Yorkshire Internet Awards ceremony held at Cutlers Hall, Sheffield, at the end of April, to highlight his individual impact in the internet and digital world.

Mark said, "Although it was an individual award, it was a community effort and is reflective of the work being done up and down the country literally by hundreds of rural communities who are coming to the CBN (Community Broadband Network) for support".

Minister Launches Broadband Support Network at ABC Conference

Rural Affairs Minister Alun Michael MP is scheduled to launch the new Community Broadband Network at the Access to Broadband Campaign Conference on 27th January.

Supported by government, industry and the co-operative movement, CBN has been set up to help communities get access to affordable broadband - including creating their own services - using social enterprise models.

Wired and Trip programmes for rural businesses renewed

Since 1998, ruralnet|uk has been running a successful programme of support to rural businesses to help them to improve their business processes by offering them consultancy in the suitable application of IT as well as a programme of training courses tailored to their needs, to assist them in their understanding, management and hands-on use of new technologies. Weave your own Web and Online Marketing courses in Warwickshire, have empowered SMEs and micro-businesses to use the Internet to promote their own products and services.

Programmes for Wired for small businesses and Trip for tourist businesses have been renewed for another year. Both programmes are supported by Warkwickshire County Council.