A campaign for community technology

At the launch of the Making the Net Work guide a group of participants laid the foundations for a campaign to promote infrastructure, access and support for housing association residents. Maggie Gennett explains:

Just do IT, from the Barts Bench

The Barts Bench group has come together to campaign for getting ICT infrastructure into communities, particularly where regeneration is going on. This will primarily allow residents fast and full access to the internet.  Some people may use the same network for digital TV, telephony, CCTV, alarms and other uses.

Our mission is to exploit economies of scale particularly in the development of new social housing.  At present small pockets of connectivity are being tried out. Various contractors are trying various (expensive) solutions around the country.  A number of wheels could be (expensively) reinvented this way.

We will be failing future generations if we continue to build new homes and communities without addressing ICT infrastructure issues.  Too many social landlords are doing this. RSLs and building contractors need to ensure that from now on they no longer build 'dumb' homes, but put in an infrastructure to support smart homes. It need not be vastly expensive.

Many residents in affordable housing are already socially excluded - it is in the power of RSLs to ensure that they are not technologically excluded too. If we do nothing, we risk making the digital divide into a digital chasm.

We do not pretend to know all the technical answers, but there is a strong case for investiogating the connectivity infrastructure projects now running and drawing this expertise together.

The infrastructure idea is not new: there are various bits of 'wiring up' going on round the UK (notably the DfES Wired Up Communities Project).  Two years down the line these experiments have not come up with a definitive answer to connecting communities.

We envisage our role as:

Our first steps will be to enlist the support of the Housing Corporation and The National Housing Federation.  We also aim to talk to the right people at the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, Regional Development Agencies and the Neighbourhood Renewal Unit.

Information about the Barts Bench Group

This group started life at a conference at Barts Hospital on Making the Net Work, September 2002.  During a breakout session, the group met (sitting on a couple of benches in the grounds) and discussed joining up communities, particularly in newly regenerated areas.  This was the start of the Barts Bench Group. 

Initial members include:

Maggie Gebbett, Communications Manager and e-champion, London & Quadrant

Robbie Davison, South Liverpool Housing

Ann-Marie Guiver, Swan Housing Association

Nicola Shields, Community Investment Manager, Amicus Group (Swale Housing)

Mark Jaffrey, consultant to Kensington Wired Up Community

Ian  Mackechnie-Jarvis, Community Investment Manager, Springboard  Housing Association

Peter Gray, Gray-King & Gray Ltd, Adviser to UK Online Centres

David Gaulton

This is not a closed group - but the core of people who have put this document together.  We welcome new members.  There is no budget, and outcomes will depend on what we can all put in during our 'spare' time!  If you join 'Friends of Barts Bench' we can keep you informed of progress.  Send Maggie your e-mail details if you want to keep in touch. mgebbett@lqgroup.org.uk