Kablenet reports that seven UK local authorities have achieved Beacon status for ‘improving social inclusion’ through IT: Derwentside, Knowsley, Liverpool, Sunderland, Cambridgeshire, East Cambridgeshire and Huntingdonshire
“They received their share of a £5m award after raising standards in several areas including: achieving wider participation in online services, increasing local IT skills, expanding the number of new e-service users, and promoting community involvement in IT activities.”The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister gave 58 Beacon awards to 54 authorities. Awards were given for education, transport, homelessness and other areas.