Innovative use of the Internet has secured AOL Innovation in the Community Awards of £2,000 for 30 forward-thinking charities and community groups across the UK. The environment, promoting writing talent and the representation of ethnic minorities were among the projects garlanded...

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The winning projects demonstrate the positive impact the Web can have in areas such as protecting the environment, developing new writing talent, the representation of ethnic minorities, and encouraging young volunteers.

The annual scheme, run by AOL UK and the national charity Citizens Online since 2003, is open to any community group or registered charity in the UK looking for support for an Internet project. Each winning organisation will receive £2,000 and a year’s free AOL Broadband Gold subscription to get their projects off the ground.

Creativity with social value

John Fisher, Chief Executive of Citizens Online, said: “The level of innovation in the award applications never fails to amaze us. The Internet is clearly very beneficial for charities and community groups and this year’s winners have realised its potential in some extremely creative ways. They have looked beyond the obvious to create valuable projects that have clear benefits for their community, this year enhanced by the increased availability of broadband across the UK.”

Many of this year’s 30 award recipients are planning to launch schemes providing peer support, with several using audio and webcam initiatives to enable people to share experiences and get support online.

Technology's social impact

Karen Thomson, Chairman and Chief Executive of AOL UK, added: “There is no doubt that the Internet is an incredibly powerful tool for supporting and connecting people."

"For those who feel cut off or who are suffering in some way, contact with like-minded people can be particularly beneficial and many of this year’s winners are making the most of broadband, wireless and other technologies to provide essential lifelines. From e-learning to counselling via instant message, we are proud to support these crucial projects.”

The winning projects include:

55+ Positive Lifestyle, Devon - to provide IT training and extend online learning opportunities for older residents in the local community

African and Caribbean Voices Association, Stratford, London – to launch a web cam diary to record African and Caribbean senior citizens’ experiences of technology www.acva.org.u

Alzheimer’s Society, West Kent – to develop an online forum for Alzheimer’s sufferers to share advice and experiences

Artimedia, Huddersfield– to develop a portal for Asian women where they can exchange information on issues of importance to them

Association of Black and Ethnic Minority Business Advisor, North London – to launch an E-wise: Get smart, Get Connected Web site to educate marginalised sections of society on the possibilities of e-business

Bowbridge Primary and Nursery School, Nottinghamshire – to provide wireless Internet access through the school’s high-specification server for local families who would otherwise be excluded from the Web

Bright Project, Bristol - to improve the standard of benefits and legal advice given by Black and Minority Ethnic organisations via a free laptop loan scheme

Carers Link, East Dunbartonshire, Scotland – to provide interactive online support and information to carers who are isolated through geography and caring responsibilities www.careslink.org.uk

The Coalition Youth and Community Programmes, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne - to develop an online resource for its youth mentoring scheme that will provide remote access to essential support and learning materials www.thecoalition.org.uk

Creative Kids, North London – to develop an Internet donation and exchange service for families in need of clothes, toys and other equipment www.creativekids.org.uk

Crystal Clear Creators, Loughborough – to develop an interactive forum and online launch pad for new writing talent

Design Options for a Versatile Environment, Portsmouth – to launch a web cam initiative providing live, remote demonstrations of home equipment for people with disabilities www.d-o-v-e.org

Drake Music Project, Edinburgh – to launch an online workshop where people can experience the project’s assistive music technologies that enable people with disabilities to make music www.drakemusicscotland.co.uk

ecodyfi, Powys, Mid Wales – to launch an online organic gardening course enabling the community to grow their own organic fruit and vegetables and support the sustainable regeneration of the Dyfi Valley

Girls Friendly Society England and Wales, East London - to evolve its ‘Keep in Touch’ campaign developing a mentoring support network for its Web site

Grief Encounter, North London – to develop an online interactive workbook, encouraging and helping children and adults to talk about and deal with bereavement

Heeland Rangers FC, Milton Keynes – to provide online training, from first aid to refereeing, for coaches, players and parents of the UK’s fastest growing all female football club

Jigsaw4u, Mitcham - to develop an audio feature on its Web site where children can listen to one another talking about their experiences of bereavement

Kent Farmline, East Malling – to develop microsites that will enable agricultural workers and other members of the rural community to access information on support and advice services from their mobile phones or PDAs www.kentfarmline.org.uk

Lesbian and Gay Foundation, Manchester – to evolve its helpline to incorporate e-mail and instant messenger services, allowing people to access counsellors easily and anonymously www.lgf.org.uk

Masquerade, Powys, Mid Wales – to develop a radio documentary about the experiences of people with a learning disability

National Association of Gifted Children, Milton Keynes–to develop a themed online discussion board enabling families to discuss their personal experiences and solutions to issues arising from having gifted children, such as bullying www.nagc.org

North Wales Bird Trust, Llandudno – to launch a web cam initiative capturing footage of the rare Ashy-faced barn owl and linking children in Wales and the Dominican Republic www.owlrescue.co.uk

Sanibel Counselling Centre, East London – to provide online counselling for people with mental health problems

Savile Town Community Association, West Yorkshire – to launch and online loan scheme of sensory equipment for disabled children

Sign, Buckinghamshire – to launch an interactive Web-based opinion poll and discussion forum for deaf people with mental health issues

Somerset Youth Volunteering Network – to provide online access to its youth-4-youth programme where young mentors support vulnerable peers in taking an active role within the local community

South Central Community Transport, based in Liverpool– to launch a Web site and develop online training opportunities for the local community

Stroud.com, Gloucestershire – to provide free Internet taster courses for disadvantaged local people, helping to get the community online and bridge the digital divide

* One group requested to remain anonymous