Keynote speakers at a forthcoming Socitm Consulting workshop on Digital Inclusion will be arguing the case for technology as a key tool in addressing social exclusion. The workshop at the British Library in London on 15 November will include presentations by Stephen Dodson, Director for the DC10plus Network, and Beatrice Rogers from the City of London's Digital Inclusion Team, as well as by experts from Socitm Consulting. The workshop is aimed primarily at local authority chief executives and policy and decision-makers in the areas of customer service, social services, education and information and communications technology.
According to Socitm Consulting’s Consulting Manager Doug Maclean, the workshop is particularly timely when government attempts to address social exclusion seem to have become bogged down. “People talk a lot about the digital divide, but paradoxically, the internet and related technologies offer the best opportunity yet for reaching out to disadvantaged groups and delivering services to them cost-effectively. There are a host of ways in which technology can be harnessed – what’s needed is a dialogue between policy-makers, decision-makers and technologists to reconcile desired outcomes and available technologies.”
Stephen Dodson, Director for the DC10plus Network, will be speaking on how digital inclusion good practice can bring about social, economic and environmental transformation in local government through ICT, and what areas of best practice need to be developed jointly between ICT management and service deliverers. Beatrice Rogers joined the CLG-funded Digital Inclusion Team in April 2007 and manages its Local Government facing workstream. Beatrice’s presentation will be covering why central and local government should be thinking and acting on digital and social exclusion, how digital and social inclusion fit into the environment of the new local performance management framework, and what CLG is doing in this area.
Socitm consultant Jenny Brogden, who is highly experienced in advising local government on using technology to communicate more effectively with its customers and as a positive force for social change, will be one of the workshop facilitators. She is particularly interested in spreading awareness of the potential for assistive technologies to improve the quality of life for the elderly and those with disabilities. “By offering remote support for people in their own homes, local authorities and partnerships can extend independence and choice for their customers, provide peace of mind for families and carers, and save money while providing a better service. In some parts of the UK, social care and ICT departments are developing collaborative and innovative solutions, while in others people are keen to get involved. This workshop is all about sharing best practice and spreading awareness of what can be achieved now.”
The Digital Inclusion workshop takes place at the British Library in London on Thursday 15th November 2007. The event is open to delegates from the public, independent and voluntary sectors and places can be booked online at: /socitm/Events/Digital+Inclusion+Workshop.htm.
ENDS
Further information
Vicky Sargent, Socitm Press Office
t: 0845 094 5641, e: vicky.sargent@socitm.gov.uk
Doug Maclean, Socitm Consulting
t: 0845 241 2773, e: doug.maclean@socitm.gov.uk
Notes to editors
Socitm (http://www.socitm.gov.uk) is an association of ICT professionals working in and for local authorities and other public sector bodies. It is a leading authority on the effective application of ICT in local government, and provides information and advice through a growing programme of research, publications, conferences, training, and consultancy.
Socitm Consulting (/consulting) has grown rapidly since its launch in 1997 to become the consultancy most used by local authorities in the areas of e-government and ICT. It has completed more than 800 projects for over 300 different clients. Heavily involved in all aspects of e-government strategy, planning and implementation, Socitm Consulting carries out a wide range of other projects in the areas of benchmarking and performance management, partnership management, change management and technology management.
DC10 (http://www.digitalchallenge.gov.uk/dc10) was founded from ten local authority networks and their partners – finalists in the Digital Challenge - a government-led initiative for a region, city or similar sized area to drive forward the use of technologies to better meet the needs of its local community and individual citizens. DC10 was awarded £2million in March 2007 to drive forward initiatives proposed as part of the Digital Challenge and to form a unit that aims to act as a unique and national exemplar in working towards social inclusion through technology.
The Digital Inclusion Team (http://digitalinclusion.pbwiki.com/) is funded by CLG to implement the report “Inclusion through Innovation”. It is hosted by the City of London on behalf of local government.