Wetherby MP Alec Shelbrooke is calling for Wetherby community groups to enter a prestigious competition which helps recognise people who use technology to benefit their communities. The awards, which are now in their fifth year, have provided funding and support to 49 organisations across Britain, including various charities for children, young people, the homeless and people with disabilities.
Alec Shelbrooke told the News: “Digital technology plays an increasingly important role, helping to improve people’s lives and encourage the growth of local businesses. “Digital Heroes is a wonderful initiative which recognises the people who have worked hard to champion digital technology and made a difference to our community. I hope that projects in Wetherby will be able to benefit from this year’s scheme and I will be encouraging local groups and individuals to enter the competition.”
The awards, run in partnership with the Daily Mirror and charities Citizens Online and Go On UK, aim to recognise inspirational people who use technology to benefit their community. Twelve winners, one from each region of the UK – voted for by the public – will each get £5,000 to enhance their digital projects, with one overall winner getting £10,000. This year there will be an additional category for children and young people, with a top prize of £4,000 for their chosen charity and an Apple MacBook Air.
The awards are now open for submissions at www.talktalk.co.uk/digitalheroes and the deadline for entries is September 14, 2012. Last year’s winner was Chris Dredger, of charity Storybook Dads, a charity that enables parents serving time in British prisons to record themselves reading bedtime stories for their children at home, helping to maintain the emotional bond between families.