​​Digital Conference celebrates 50,000 people getting online for the first time!

A unique conference to celebrate the impact of the Welsh Government’s Communities 2.0 digital inclusion programme takes place in Cardiff next month. The Communities 2.0 Conference will run from Wednesday 25^th to Thursday 26^th February at the Swalec Stadium in Cardiff.

The Conference will feature key note speeches from the Minister for Communities and Tackling Poverty, Lesley Griffiths and well known digital inclusion activist Dr Sue Black.

The Conference incorporates a Celebration of Achievements Awards event which is hosted by television personality and advocate of science and technology in education, Maggie Philbin. The awards will celebrate those individuals, organisations and partnerships that have excelled in the journey to creating a more digital Wales.

Digital inclusion has come a long way in Wales since the launch of the Welsh Government’s Communities 2.0 programme in 2009. Organisations such as local authorities, housing associations, community and voluntary groups and social enterprises have embedded digital technology within their day to day activities. The use of technology such as tablet devices and smart phones has revolutionised the way people get online to access information and services. Universal Jobmatch has made it essential for job seekers to have digital skills.

Communities 2.0 was tasked with supporting communities to make the most of digital technology and the internet. It has been part funded by European Regional Development Funding.

In its lifetime the programme has supported hundreds of small enterprises and voluntary organisations, and thousands of individuals, to get online and benefit from digital technology. The project ends in Spring 2015 and this conference is an opportunity to find out what worked, discover the latest technology being used to tackle digital exclusion and discuss what the future looks like for digital inclusion in Wales when the project comes to an end.

The conference is aimed at anyone with an interest in supporting communities to get online and to make the most of digital technology which is widely acknowledged as a key element in social inclusion and community development today. The event will be attended by representatives from the Welsh Government, local authorities, housing, social enterprises, community organisations and the voluntary sector in Wales and further afield.

Cathryn Marcus is Director of Communities 2.0. She stated,

“Since 2009 Communities 2.0 has helped more than 50,000 people to try computers and tablets, use the internet and to start using technology to enhance their daily lives. The overall impact that the programme has made is immense and is difficult to measure accurately as the numbers, although extremely high, don’t give an indication of the overall effect that this work has on peoples lives.

“Throughout this program we have heard stories of people who have reconnected with their families through email and Skype. We have volunteers who have gained confidence and work skills and gone on to get valuable and fulfilling jobs. And, we have heard many stories of people who have used digital technology to access savings, educational opportunities and job opportunities that quite simply wouldn’t have been able to do so without the support of Communities 2.0.

“This is a perfect time to reflect on what the program has achieved and what the next steps should be for Digital Inclusion in Wales”.

As well as the key note speakers, there will be a series of breakout sessions. The first sessions will look at lessons learned from Communities 2.0 and look at digital and financial inclusion, volunteers, working with community groups and creating successful local ‘Get Online’ campaigns.

A second set of sessions will examine current technology such as apps, social media, digital tourism and the potential of the Raspberry Pi. The third set of sessions will look at the future of digital inclusion and will examine skills, healthcare, people and places, social housing and skills for young learners.

There are still a number of free places available for the Communities 2.0 Conference. They are available from www.communities2point0.org.uk/conference-2015 or by calling 0845 474 8282.