TalkTalk, the phone, mobile and broadband provider, has today launched the TalkTalk Digital Heroes Awards 2011, its nationwide search to find people using digital technology to do amazing things for their communities.

The awards, which are run in partnership with Citizens Online and supported by Race Online 2012, aim to recognise inspirational people who use technology to benefit their community. Twelve winners, one from each region of the UK - voted for by the public - will each get £5,000 to enhance their digital projects, with one overall winner getting £10,000.

The Awards are now open for submissions at www.talktalk.co.uk/digitalheroes and the deadline is 11th September 2011.

TalkTalk chairman Charles Dunstone is on the judging panel that includes Martha Lane Fox, UK Digital Champion, and Richard Wallace, editor of the Daily Mirror.

Commenting on the awards, Dido Harding, Chief Executive of TalkTalk, said: "There are a great many people across the country bringing about positive social change through digital technologies. Not only do they often struggle with funding, but all too frequently they go unrecognised - Digital Heroes aims to address both of those issues."

In addition to the main awards, Martha Lane Fox will also present a special award to the project that most exemplifies the aims of Race Online 2012, a campaign to make the UK the first nation in the world where everyone can use the internet.

"Digital Heroes is one of my favourite events of the year as it helps to mobilise digital champions in communities all over the country," says Martha Lane Fox. "At Race Online 2012 we're pleased to get involved with an initiative that helps people that do extraordinary things with digital technology and our own special award will recognise a champion that helps get people online."

John Fisher, chief executive of Citizens Online, "Most of us now take the internet and all the new digital technologies for granted and enjoy all the benefits they bring - but amazingly there are still around 9m adults in the UK who have never been online. And perversely those who would benefit most from the new skills and opportunities, better advice or cheaper goods and services that the internet can provide are those people least likely to be online Digital Heroes is a wonderful platform to help change this and these awards provide an excellent opportunity to recognise and support projects that can inspire individuals to start their own digital journeys."

The Daily Mirror is supporting Digital Heroes for the second year running, and editor Richard Wallace is enthusiastic about the role it plays: "As the media world has evolved to put a great deal of emphasis online we have a duty to help our readers access digital services, so we're delighted to get involved again with Digital Heroes. Last year we were inspired by the quality of entries and the commitment that so many people have to helping others get online and have a rich internet experience."

You can find out more information on the awards and how to enter at: www.talktalk.co.uk/digitalheroes. Entries are welcomed until 11th September 2011.

The Twitter hashtag for the awards is #digitalheroes