Developing a Limerick City Digital Inclusion Strategy

1. Limerick Community Connect 2001 -2010

2. Why a Strategic Group?

Suggested Structure for Groups

Limerick Community ConnectCommunity

GroupsCity of Limerick

VEC (AES)PAUL Partnership

Formed as Limerick Community ICT Steering Group in 2001

‘To promote, support and deliver collaborative and innovative approaches to the use of ICT in communities at risk of digital exclusion’

Re-named Limerick Community Connect in 2010 and established as a Company Limited by Guarantee

Limerick Community Connect

•Employment•Community Services•Estate Management•Adult Education•Youth Activities•Childcare•Women’s Groups•Advice and Information•Meals Services•Services to Senior Citizens•Etc, etc, etc.

Serving the needs of over 4000 people annually

Moyross

Southill

St. Munchin’s

St. Mary’s

Our Lady of Lourdes

Community Groups

Limerick City AES (CLVEC)

PAUL Partnership

Limerick Community ConnectCommunity

GroupsLimerick City AES

(CLVEC)PAUL Partnership

• 2000 Community Based Learners Annually • 79 Community Locations • Levels 1 to 5 on NQF• Community Education Programme• Basic Education Solutions (Adult Literacy)• Upskill Solutions (including Back To Education Initiative)

• Programmes developed in Partnership with Community Groups• 700 Learners in ICT/Digital Skills/Digital Literacy annually• Increasing emphasis on ‘blended learning’ and use of Social Media

for Learning

Limerick Community ConnectCommunity

GroupsPAUL Partnership

• Working with communities that have benefited least from economic and social development • Promoting social inclusion and improving the quality of life of people living in these communities.

Supporting Enterprise

Development

LES/ Jobs Club

Supporting Community

Development

Supporting Education &

Training

Equality Projects

Research and Evaluation

Supporting Volunteering

Initiatives

Etc. etc.

Limerick Community Connect

ResearchCapacity Building

Family LearningNetwork Management

Training

Outputs to Date

Limerick Community Connect

InnovatingRaising Awareness

Outputs to Date

Limerick Community Connect

Improving Access

Influencing Policy Planning

Outputs to Date

Why a Strategic Group• The nature of Digital inclusion – is multi-facited and broad in nature therefore tackling

exclusion effectively will involve many stakeholders• Collaborative effort (as opposed to independant silos)• Bring ‘Digital’ Expertise to bear on issue

Why a Digital Inclusion Strategy ?• Minimal real understanding and appreciation of the crucial

importance of Digital Inclusion• To ensure a cohesive clearly defined response to digital

exclusion• To influence those who make policy and fund policy initiatives• The Regeneration context

Research

Improving Access

Innovating

Raising Awareness

Influencing Policy

Capacity Building

Planning

Community ICT Coordinator

•Employed by Limerick Community Connect•Coordinating the implementation of LCC projects•Facilitating the work of both groups•A key link between both groups

Adult Education & Training Reps

Social Inclusion & Regeneration Reps

Third Level Education Reps

Local Gov. & Regional Dev. Reps

Industry & Business Reps

Others

2 Community Reps

Limerick Community

Connect

Digital Inclusion Strategic

Group

Suggested Structure for 2 Groups