London, UK - March 4th, 2013. AbilityNet patron, Ms Lane Fox, opens nominations for the national Technology4Good Awards on Tuesday 5 March 2013.
The Awards are the brainchild of national e-accessibility charity, AbilityNet. They recognise organisations and individuals who use digital technology to improve the lives of others and are open to businesses, public bodies and charities with a base in the UK.
Sponsored by BT, Technology4Good celebrates the innovative and diverse ways in which charities, businesses, schools, government and the public have harnessed the power of technology to benefit the community.
Entry is free and applications are welcomed in eight categories via the Award website: www.Technology4Goodawards.org.uk
Professor Stephen Hawking was the toast of last year’s Awards ceremony, winning the Special Award for Excellence in Accessibility.
Other winners included Child’s I Foundation, which uses digital fundraising to help tackle child abandonment in Uganda; LexAble, which has produced innovative software to overcome the problems posed by dyslexia; Paignton Stroke Survivors Group, which enables members to relearn computer skills and Radio Free Brighton, a community online radio station run by volunteers in their own homes.
The unique scope of the UK Technology4Good Awards offers nominees the opportunity to showcase their expertise in a range of areas including: accessibility, volunteering, innovation, digital skills, community action and digital giving.
The Awards are supported by businesses and charities including Barclaycard, Camelot, Go ON UK, IT4Comunities, Media Trust, Microsoft and UK online centres and recognise outstanding and inspirational achievements by people and organisations that are using digital technologies to help make the world a better place.
Official compere, radio and TV presenter, Mariella Frostrup, welcomed the Awards’ sense of optimism, saying:
“We so often hear about people doing bad stuff, not good.
Technology4Good focuses attention on the feel-good nature of the many inspiring and heart-warming stories - a timely antidote to hacking and rate fixing. Well done AbilityNet!”
Added AbilityNet CEO, Nigel Lewis: “As the leading experts in e-accessibility for people with disabilities, AbilityNet is acutely aware of the empowering influence of digital technology.
“Whether at home, at work or in education, access to the digital world can be life changing – economically, socially and psychologically. We are delighted that BT has enabled us to make this awards scheme a reality.”
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Editors’ notes:
About AbilityNet:
National charity, AbilityNet, has over 20 years’ experience enabling people with disabilities to access technology and the internet at home, at work and in education. Globally acclaimed for its expertise in both workplace disability management as well as online usability and accessibility issues, AbilityNet works with clients in the private, public and voluntary sector including all major Departments of State and many FTSE top 100 indexed companies. The Charity’s Patrons are Sir Terry Pratchett OBE and Martha Lane Fox, UK Digital Champion, Chair of Go ON UK and soon to be Baroness Lane-Fox of Soho in the City of Westminster.
Press Contact:
Carrie Saint Freedman
Tel: 01926 429595/07733 227003 or
Email:Carrie.saintfreedman[at]abilitynet[dot]org.uk
Distributed on behalf of AbilityNet by NeonDrum news distribution service (http://www.neondrum.com)