31 July 2013
MP for West Worcestershire, Harriett Baldwin this week backed a nationwide hunt for ‘digital heroes’ with the chance to win £10,000. And the MP called on local groups who are using technology to help their communities to enter the competition which will be judge by luminaries including lastminute.com founder Martha Lane Fox. The Digital Heroes Awards, now in their sixth year, have provided funding and support to 62 organisations across Britain, including various charities which have used technology to help children and youth, the homeless and people with disabilities. Twelve regional winners - voted for by the public - will each get £5,000 to enhance their digital projects, with one overall winner getting £10,000. Martha Lane Fox will present a special award for the Young Digital Hero on behalf of Go ON UK, a charity she chairs which aims to make UK the world's most digitally connected nation. Harriett commented: “Worcestershire is home to generations of brilliant creative people using technology to help their communities. “I hope that these groups will enter this competition and gain some national recognition for their hard work.” Dido Harding, chief executive of TalkTalk, said: “Digital Heroes is the only competition of its kind, and each year attracts hundreds of nominations from people across the country. “It has already made an enormous difference to dozens of important projects across the UK and this year we look forward to finding new and innovative ways of using technology for good.”