Digital Manifesto for health, education, democracy and society
The fourth national Digital Inclusion Conference, NDI09, is all about empowerment through technology, and this year it will include its own digital dimension.
From live web-streaming of plenary sessions to Twitter and Blogger press passes and a new social networking site for the sector, the biggest digital inclusion event of the year will be trying to live up to its name, and use technology to empower its delegates.
The Conference, which takes place at the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre in Westminster on Monday and Tuesday of next week, will be attended by representatives from across the public, private and third sectors, plus speakers including Communications Minister Lord Stephen Carter, Digital Inclusion Minister Paul Murphy, Health Minister Ben Bradshaw, Skills Minister Sion Simon, Schools Minister Jim Knight, Communities Minister Baroness Andrews and the BBC’s Online Access Champion.
Those who can’t make it in person will be able to watch a live webstream of the speeches on the conference website – live.nationaldigitalinclusionconference.co.uk. Before the event they’ll also be able to drive debate on the new www.digitalengagement.org site, and afterwards help shape the Digital Inclusion Manifesto that will come out of the Conference workstreams.
Meanwhile social enterprise We Share Stuff will be running a social media surgery and host their own fringe event on the Monday evening to thrash out Conference highs and lows. A team of roving social reporters will be filming their own take on the day, interviewing Ministers and delegates alike to get a different perspective on what’s happening, where.
Robin Knowles from Civic Agenda explains: “We’ll be talking about how new technologies can empower people, and there’s just no way we could ignore that in the Conference logistics. We’re taking this Conference live online with live Blogging and Tweets (#NDI09) running on the Conference homepage. Anyone can have a voice, and we want them to have a chance to use it by being either at this Conference or participating from their workplace or even the comfort of their own home”
Helen Milner, Managing Director of Conference supporters UK online centres adds: “I’m excited to see what comes out of it the digital dimensions of the Conference. I’m particularly interested in keeping the digital engagement conversation going on www.digitalengagement.org, and tapping into the considerable expertise and thought leadership that’s out there in the ether on personal blogs and company websites. Bringing that into one place will give us a new chance to pool expertise and ideas.”
National Director of DC10 Plus, who also support the Conference, is Stephen Dodson. He concludes: “I want to see where the real debate happens – on stage or on line – and if we can achieve the right blend of both. I’d encourage anyone out there – delegates or not – to join us and have their say.”
The National Digital Inclusion Conference will take place on 27 and 28 April at the Queen Elizabeth II Conference centre. NDI09 is a Civic Agenda Conference in association with UK online centres and DC10 Plus, supported by Communities and Local Government, NHS Choices, Regenerateit, Yorkshire Forward, Intel, Ofcom, BT, Direct Gov, and Simply Digital.
Ends
For more information please contact Abi Stevens at astevens@ufi.com or on 0778 666 0689
Notes to editors:
- Live webstream: http://live.nationaldigitalinclusionconference.co.uk
- Social reporting: http://net.digitalengagement.org
- Twitter hashtag: #NDI09
- Civic Agenda is a specialist conference development and organisation agency delivering public and social focussed conferences across the UK. Civic Agenda works with a range of partner organisations and draws on the expertise of sister organisations Civic Regeneration, Regenerate IT and Market Squared to support conferences that explore key areas of social, economic and community policy for an audience of the public, private and voluntary sector. For more information please visit www.civicagenda.co.uk
· DC10 Plus bullet – DC10plus aims to address social, economic, environmental and service delivery through the smart use of technology. It is a collaborative network of local authorities and their partners from industry, government, academe and third sectors. Dedicated to creating partnerships, sharing good practice, developing new initiatives and influencing policy the DC10plus vision is to be a network for change; helping local authorities and their service delivery partners to empower people and connect communities through technology and innovation. For more information please visit www.dc10plus.net
- UK online centres provide millions of people with access to technology and support in using it. They offer free or low cost access to the internet and email, deliver online courses and encourage people to progress onto further learning. For more information please visit www.ukonlinecentres.com. UK online centres are managed by Ufi, the organisation also behind learndirect
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