This document summarizes Debbie Ross' role as Community IT Programme and Relationship Manager at Sunderland City Council and outlines the city's partnership approach to promoting digital inclusion. Key points include establishing electronic village halls and communities of interest websites, winning awards for digital inclusion programs, and partnering with housing providers and community organizations to provide technical support and training to residents through initiatives like an electronic village hall on the Lakeside Estate. The partnership approach relies on flexible arrangements, community engagement, trusted local champions, and ongoing facilitation to increase skills, participation and social inclusion through access to technology.

1. Debbie Ross
Community IT Programme and
Relationship Manager
Sunderland City Council

2. Sunderland
- a Partnership Approach
Debbie Ross
Community IT Programme & Relationship Manager
Sunderland City Council

3. Community IT – Promoting Digital
Inclusion
• Engage local people and provide access to new technologies and skills
• Actively promote the use of, and facilitates access to, ICT within the City
working closely with the Voluntary & Community Sector and other
Partners
• Support local people to take a pro-active role
• Assist the Voluntary and Community Sector to develop community based,
community owned ICT provision
• Champion the use of technology as a powerful tool for the Voluntary &
Community Sector
• Building digital capacity for both individuals and communities and
empowering them by enabling access to a world of information,
knowledge, skills and opportunities.

4. Evolution of Community IT
• 2002 e-Neighbourhoods Programme Launched
– Electronic Village Halls
– Community e-Champions
– Community of Interest Websites
• 2003 Beacon Status – Social Inclusion Through ICT
• 2005 First Gentoo / Council Partnership EVH delivered
• 2006 Members Mainstream e-Neighbourhoods Programme
• 2006 Winner of the Digital Challenge Programme
• 2007 – 2010 Delivery of Digital Challenge
• 2010 Beacon Status - Digital Inclusion
• 2011 Community IT continue the legacy of e-Neighbourhoods & Digital
Challenge Programmes

5. Community IT Services
• Electronic Village Halls (EVHs)
• Community e-Champions
• Communities of Interest Websites
• Film & Media
• Equipment Loan
• Strategic Engagement & Event Support
• e-Voting facilitation
• Online Networking (Flash & Hexagon)
• Community Service Level Agreements (paid
service)

6. Core Principles
• Partnerships
• Engagement
• Empowerment
• Respect & Common Goals
• Accessibility
• Flexibility and responsiveness
• Equality & Diversity
• Capacity Building & Learning
• Teach not Do
• Ownership & Governance

7. Digital Inclusion & Social Housing
- A Partnership Approach
• Gentoo
– Location
– Capital Outlay, On-going connectivity and Overheads
– Resident engagement/liaison
• Council (Community IT Team)
– Technical Support
– Community Engagement / Event Support & Facilitation
– e-Champion identification & Support
– VCS Networking
• Voluntary & Community Sector
– Outreach Training Provision
– Resident Signposting

8. Case Study: Lakeside Estate

13. Outcomes
• Cross Community Dialogue
• Increased Volunteering
• Raised awareness and aspirations
• Skills development
• Increased Participation in Democratic Process
Enabled targeted engagement
• Social Inclusion benefits & networking
• Educational attainment
• Supporting Channel Shift & IAG Strategies

14. Sunderland Partnership Approach -
CSFs
• Flexible Partnership arrangements
• Community Engagement & Consultation
• Trusted Intermediaries
• e-Champions (Digital Champions)
• On-going facilitation and technical support
• Service Desk / Helpdesk Support
• Include the Voluntary & Community Sector

15. Thank you!
www.sunderland.gov.uk/communityit
Debbie.ross@sunderland.gov.uk