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Community Engagement

Clicks and Links has unique experience in engaging communities in the development and use of information and communications technologies. Our work on a number of projects has enabled us to develop programmes of consultation, training and involvement that have proved effective in developing community capacity and confidence.

These ensure that the ICT agenda reflects local needs and with the delivery of locally valued content, ensures that the community has a real sense of direction and ownership of the resulting programmes.

Only by this level of direct local 'ground-up' engagement that values the contribution of local people and organisations, can the ideal of real community engagement be delivered.

The public policy agenda to address the digital divide, improve IT skills and deliver electronic services can only be fully effective if they are addressed within the context of an effective programme of community involvement.

It is essential that the community has a major input into the portal's functionality, design and content. In this respect, we recognise and endorse the need to work closely with the organisation to harness existing links and consult with the local communities.

One way of engaging with the community is to appoint "Digital Community Champions"

Digital Community Champions

Previous experience has shown that the best way to reach a community is through its own members. To do this, we would engage with three different kinds of community champions or activists.

ICT Activists

people who have expertise and interest in technical matters and might well be interested in providing voluntary technical support to an emerging community network.

'Formal' Community Activists

people who are already part of the formal structures of the area, such as members of the community forums, the tenants and residents associations and local community groups.

'Informal' Community Activists

people who would not think of themselves as such, but who, for instance, spend an hour getting a pint of milk because of the friends they meet on the way and the gossip and information they share with each other.