www.southwilts.com

communities online

Steve MiltonSouth Wiltshire Strategic Alliance

www.southwilts.com?

A community development tool Enables local people, groups and

businesses to build & maintain websites No HTML, XML or Java! In fact, no technical stuff at all! Just type and go! 100% free for users!

Our Aim

Improve access to community information Promote community groups & activities Promote local businesses and the rural

economy Improve access to public services Improve communication between communities Designed & managed by the community Self sustaining Meet ODPM eGov outcomes

Funding

Funded by Govt. ePathfinder scheme Wiltshire & Swindon awarded £1.4m One of 25 projects Complex bidding process Partnership approach £46k for www.southwilts.com

Involving the Community

User group established at the outset Design Workshop Developed the Specification Tested the site Local ‘super-users’ and ‘champions’ Will manage the site as a Charity in the future Site acts as online consultation tool for the LSP

Developing the Site

Selected a local company - Cravenplan A commercial partnership A complex contract Cravenplan retain a stake Cravenplan private investment of

£30,000+ Rewritten programme as an off the shelf

eGov tool

Sustainability

No ongoing cost to local Taxpayers Revenue costs funded by commercial

sponsorship Community provides and manages

content User Group will take over management

once sponsorship exceeds costs

Features of the Site

Trusted Users Template driven page creation Advertisements Job vacancies Online Diary Online eZine Mailing lists Self policing

Is it working?

Currently 520 community sites hosted 6.6m hits since Jan 2004 387,000 hits In August 2005 35,000 pages of local information

viewed every month £2,500 annual revenue from sponsors System now procured up and running

in Oxfordshire

Where now?

More promotional work locally All Councillors online by end 2005 Drive up sponsorship income to

£5,000 Launch Phase 3 improvements Cravenplan invested £30,000+ in

nationwide marketing

www.southwilts.com

communities online

Steve MiltonSouth Wiltshire Strategic Alliance