Regional ICT Champions

England is divided up into nine government regions, which Capacitybuilders are using to define our working boundaries.

In each region there is an ICT Champion for the third sector whose overall aim is to ensure infrastruucture organisations are able to provide effective ICT support or know people who can. They are …

• … locally based and have knowledge to signpost to the ICT work within their region
• … trusted with a track record of providing reliable and authoritative ICT advice – to be a champion for ICT
• … an independent point of contact not trying to plug a service or product from one supplier but keen to see co-ordination and sharing of best practice and to ensure gaps in ICT provision are met

• … also focussed on making sure infrastructure organisations (such as the local Councils for Voluntary Service) can make the most of their own technology to further the aims of organisations in their area.

I’ve listed below the links to the blogs and websites of the Regional Champions (and some others too) – if you can add to the list (or have any other regional input, pictures or people’s blogs you’ve got – send them in!).

There is also a link to the Google Map where these have been set-up which pin points the ICT Support organisations identified in those regions (please get in touch if you’d like to feature on these maps).

In each region the ICT Champions have established network groups which meet regularly to co-ordinate local ICT activity and to plan for events, workshops and shape regional ICT strategy. In some regions the group is called an “Regional ICT Projects Group”, in some its an “ICT Theme Group”, others an “ICT Forum” and in one region its just called “ERIC”!. If you would like to find out about your local group or would like become part of your regional ICT network then please contact me or the relevant ICT Champion.

East of England Region

Regional Champion is Paul Ruskin hosted by Advice For Life (AFL) in Ely. Phone 01353 865405 or email him.

ITs Champion in the East of England – visit the website of Paul Ruskin, and find out why.

Susie (who also works for AFL) has a blog to try winning hearts and minds over to FOSS.

London Region

Regional Champion is Miles Maier hosted by Lasa in London. Phone 020 7426 4496 or email him.

Meet Miles and find out more about ICT in London on his blog here.

There is also a Google Map showing ICT projects in and around London.

East Midlands Region

Regional Champion is Steve Webster at High Peak CVS in Whaley Bridge (near Buxton). Phone 01663 735350 or email him.

Digital Umbrella the ICT Social Enterprise part of High Peak CVS covering the Derbyshire area have a blog for their team and the work they do for organisations.

The East Midlands Regional ICT Champion keeps a blog of his work and news at ITEM3.

There is also a Google Map showing ICT projects in the East Midlands.

West Midlands Region

Regional Champion is Adrian Cooper who is hosted by Community First in Great Malvern. Phone 01684 312759 or email him.

What’s more of a confession – reading too many computer magazines or mixing ICT and cake products? Find out by reading the blog of the West Midlands ICT Champion.

Yorkshire and The Humber Region

Regional Champion is Colin Harrison based at Electroville in Dewsbury. Phone 01924 488725 or email him.

Great things come from Yorkshire …. and Colin Harrison’s blog of his work as the Yorkshire & the Humber regional ICT champion is no exception! More links than you could imagine to local sources of ICT support, news and funding opportunities from England’s finest region (OK – to be inclusive – England’s finest region beginning with the letter ‘Y’!).

There is also a Google Map showing ICT projects in Yorkshire and The Humber.

North East Region

Regional Champion is Andrew Samuel (who goes by the name of Sam) based at VONNE in Newcastle. Phone 0191 233 2000 or email him.

Find out about Sam’s work as ICT Champion for the North East and other related resources on the ICT Champion pages of the VONNE website.

There is also a Google Map showing ICT projects in the North East.

North West Region

Regional Champion is Peter Dunn based at GMCVO in Manchester. Phone 07810 480185 or email him.

If you are based in the North West and you’re keen to see what ICT developments are taking place then the North West Champion website is the place to visit.

There is also a Google Map showing ICT projects in the North West.

South West Region

Regional Champion is Julie Harris at Cosmic in Ottery St. Mary – Devon. Phone 01404 813226 or email her.

Julie has a blog of her work, which is an invaluable resource of all that is happening (well in ICT anyway!) across this region.

There is also a Google Map showing ICT projects in the South West.

South East Region

Regional Champion is Mark Walker based at SCIP in Brighton. Phone 01273 234049 or email him.

Mark writes about his work as South East Regional Champion at SCIP, which also includes ICT support for community organisations, local information projects, search engines, community informatics, research and writing. And some other stuff.Mark is also helped by Lucian Borcanescu who is based in Slough and covers some of the northerly areas of the South East region.

There is also a Google Map showing ICT projects in the South East.