Broadband has the potential to benefit all parts of the community.  Indeed, Information and Communication Technologies can significantly improve the outcomes and quality of life for all people from all walks of life.  The benefits include:

Increased access to public services
Improved employment prospects
Learning opportunities
Social benefits (e.g. reducing isolation)
Greater independence (e.g. through the delivery of telecare)
Reaching hard to reach groups

Community and Voluntary organisations can also benefit from being Broadband enabled and having their own web presence, as well as being able to offer their clients access to the internet.

*** USEFUL RESOURCES ***

BROADBAND GUIDE

ADVICE AND GRANTS

FOR FREE COMPUTER SESSIONS - register for techitup

CASE STUDIES

FREE WEBSITE TEMPLATES AND HOSTING
SurreyCommunity.info, the new portal for Community and Voluntary Sector organisations in Surrey will be providing FREE website templates and hosting to all Surrey Community and Voluntary Sector organisations and Parish/Town Councils from March 2006.

COMMUNITY WEBSITE BUILDER
As part of its efforts to help everyone benefit from improved communications, BT has teamed up with ik.com to make free, easy-to-build websites available for UK charities and community groups.

REPORT - How can broadband benefit you and your community?
How can broadband benefit UK community groups and help to reduce the digital divide? SustainIT's report Connected Community Organisations: can they help to reduce the digital divide?