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Wired
up Communities (WUCs) is a UK Government programme to
saturate a number of pilot neighbourhoods with Internet connections
- through PCs, TV or other means.
Making
the Net Work prepared some material, below, for discussion
at the first conference of WUC staff and local champions in
Liverpool in May 2001. In addition we have included headings
from a project management system one of the WUCs is using.
Below
are ten possible components for a WUC, drawn from other MTNW
material. The starting point was Terry Grunwald's 24
indicators and building blocks,
and work we did in developing The
Guide to Getting Communities Connected. We have linked
sections on this site to the Guide, and will be expanding
MTNW content too.
There
may be some similarities between WUCs and another Government
programme: Community Grids for Learning. You will find some
models for them in the grids
section of the Guide
Ten possible
components of a WUC
1
Local champions form a core network to help create
and manage the initiative with staff and volunteers, and involvement
of the local community. For ideas on who these might be, see
key interests. For example:
- Staff
- Tech
enthusiasts
- Key
community contacts
- Champions
within agencies
- Volunteer
helpers, trainers, resource raisers
- Community
tech project leaders
See
our getting started and planning
sections for the process by which they might develop the
WUC. Download a newsletter on involving
the community in the Kensington, Liverpool, WUC.
2
A community audit of local resources and projects is
completed and displayed as an asset map to avoid duplication
and to promote local collaboration. See a longer
version here.
- Additional
access and tech facilities
- Training
and support
- Additional
hardware and software
- Local
champions
- Community
projects and organisations
- Community
of interest and practice networks
- Information
managers, brokers, facilitators
- Sources
of funding and other resources
- Local
institutions willing to open their doors
- Online
development expertise: e-commerce, e-democracy etc
- Mechanisms
for PR and raising awareness: local media etc
3
Partners are committing to support through, for example,
endorsement, help in kind, funding, 'open doors' policy of
sharing resources.
- Local
authority
- Local
agencies, schools, colleges, libraries
- Nonprofit
organisations
- Local
companies
See
our section on partnerships
for more on gaining commitment, and resources
for the help they might offer.
4
A business plan for the WUC creation and sustainability
is developed with community participation.
- Main
projects - products and services
- Financial
projections and funding strategy
- Staffing,
volunteers, partners
- Organisational
structure
- Monitoring
and evaluation
We
don't have a business planning template for a WUC, but there
is useful guidance
on business planning in our section on centres.
5
Home and public access is in place with plans for upgrading
hardware and software when appropriate, using an appropriate
technology platform.
- Email
accounts and other services for all users
- Plans
to deploy, maintain and upgrade equipment
- Access
and use policies
- Technical
and other support
See
out technology section, currently
linked to the Guide to Getting Communities Connected.
6
A Web site is under collaborative development with
features relevant to the community.
- Community
information
- Local
services
- Hosting
and self publishing
- Facilities
for local projects
See
Terry Grunwald's guidelines on creating
a web site and her article in the Guide on involving
the community in building the site
7
Online networks of local interests are developing through
email lists, web forums or other methods.
- Communities
of interest and practice
- Forums
for local democracy and participation
- Facilities
for collaborative working
- Community
calendars, polls etc
See
Using
email lists and more in the Guide
8
A local centre and outreach provides training and multi-media
facilities.
- Internet
and computer basics
- Fun
and formal qualifications
- Facilities
for local projects
- Work
with local organisations.
See
our section on centres
9
A local helpdesk provides support for residents and
organisations
- Phone,
email and face to face help
- Tech
and other issues
10
There is a real or virtual coordinating 'hub' for staff,
volunteers and others to work together.
- Meeting
and presentation space
- Office
and projects space
- System
for virtual teams and online network
David
Wilcox
Project
management checklist
Newham
Online, who are developing one of the WUCs, have a detailed
project management system based on these headings.
I. Online
Services
A. Service
1. Core
services
2. Additional services
B. Platform
1. Physical
Infrastructure
2. ICT infrastructure
3. Software
C. Provided
Content
II. Management
A. Organisational
Environment
1. Legal
2. Economic
3. Social
B. Project
Management
1. Startup
2. Initiation
3. Stage control
4. Closing and starting stages
5. Project closure
C. Quality
Management
1. Product
definitions
2. Quality plan
3. Quality log
4. Project issues
D. Service
Management
III. Users
A. Aware
1. Newsletter
2. Handouts
3. Meetings
B. Consulted
1. Information
2. Questionnaire
3. Discussion groups
C. Equipped
1. Terms
and conditions
2. Schedule for installation
3. Agreement
4. Configuration
D. Competent
1. In
home training
2. On estate training
3. Online learning
E. Supported
1. Online
help
2. Helpdesk
3. Updates
F. Participative
1. Online
Local Content development
2. Off line content development
Richard
Stubbs Newham Online
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