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Grant funding applications have now closed. If you have submitted an application, you should have received an email confirmation. Successful centres will be informed by 10 March 2010.
Funding introduction from Helen Milner, Managing Director, UK online centres
In December, the Smarter Government report announced a £30m investment in digital inclusion for UK online centres to get one million people online for the end of 2012. The majority of that funding will go directly to grassroots providers in the form of grants, and the first of those grants are now available for application.
The deadline for bids is noon on 10 February 2010, with projects funded by the grant due to run from 1 April 2010 until 31 March 2011.
Applications are welcomed from UK online centres members, AND from other grassroots providers willing to be become member centres by the time they deliver their grant-funded project.
UK online centres will be looking to recruit new centres working with deeply excluded people, in areas of high deprivation or low network coverage, and membership is vital in order for us effectively to administrate the grant process and monitor progress.
Levels of funding will vary from £6,000 to £30,000, depending on the type of grant applied for, the capacity of individual centres, and the type of audiences they work with. Successful centres will be required to:
- Use Online basics and myguide as part of their digital inclusion provision
- Support people to use government websites and online services
- Engage in a whole range of UK online centres activities, including marketing campaigns
- Set and meet targets, delivering high-quality learning and support, and high quality Management Information to evaluate it
- Support visitors to become confident internet-users and advocates for digital skills
- Support progression by encouraging visitors onto further learning, volunteering or employment activities.
You can find out more details about becoming and being a UK online centre by visiting our Becoming a centre page.
Meanwhile, you can find full details about the funding models, eligibility criteria and obligations in the Funding Guidance document below. Please read information carefully, alongside the Budget Guidance and Project Delivery Form.
GF0910 Funding guidelines (1.26 MB)
Project delivery form (725 kB)
Top tips for Champion centres (38 kB)
Grant Funding 2010 FAQs (76 kB)
You can find out more details about becoming and being a UK online centre by visiting our Becoming a centre page.