The UK Catalyst Awards
Winners announced! Tim Smit, founder of the Eden Project, gives us his verdict:Watch more videos from the Awards on our YouTube channel.
July 24th saw Gordon Brown congratulating the winners of the first UK Catalyst Awards at a ceremony in London. And if that wasn't enough they were also joined by John Hutton MP and Phil Hope MP.
The winners:
The Community Award - Savvychavvy– a social networking site for young gypsy travellers, giving them a voice and the opportunity to change the way their community is perceived
The David and Goliath Award - Liftshare– an online car-sharing system, enabling more efficient use of car journeys and cutting CO2 emissions and congestion
The Chalk & Cheese Award - FreqOUT!- a programme that combines wireless technology and emergent arts/education projects, and works to engage socially excluded young people
The Enterprise Award - Slivers of time – a web-based employment solution, allowing people to find bits of work which they can do in between unpredictable commitments in their life, such as childcare, starting a business or studying
The Revolutionary Award - Wheelies– the world’s first virtual disability nightclub. Based in SecondLife, it is connecting disabled users and providing a platform for them to discuss common issues
The Self-Help Award - School of everything – this innovative site matches up would-be learners and would-be teachers; unleashing unused skills in local neighbourhoods and allowing people, from young whizz kids to retired people, to pass on what they know to others
The Individual Hero Award - Helen Anderson of South Witham broadband – after a series of large internet suppliers refused to provide broadband in South Witham, Lincolnshire, Helen started a not-for-profit company to provide local individuals and businesses with broadband internet and WiFi. The volunteer-led project has been so successful that Helen has even shared her expertise with the Australian Government!
After an online vote, in which more than 3,000 votes were cast, The People’s Choice Award went to The Freeconomy Community, a skill, tool, space and land sharing website to build closer, stronger communities through the power of sharing
We had more than 100 entries in total, proving that the web has evolved to enable a series of communities to find a voice and connect with each other.From the disabled through to gypsy travellers and NHS patients, disparate groups are using technology as an enabler, allowing them to share experiences and skills, act for change, discuss issues and support one another.
What is 'social technology'?
Social technology means any internet, mobile or gaming software that lets you connect and communicate with other people. Examples are text messaging, social networking (e.g. Facebook, MySpace, Bebo), blogging, and so on.
Who is behind the awards?
The awards were announced last July when Prime Minister Gordon Brown started the Council on Social Action.
The awards are sponsored by NESTA, National Endowment for Science, Technology and Arts and BERR, the government’s Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform.
They are coordinated by Make Your Mark, working with Polecat who help businesses and organisations measure their social impact and Colman Getty, a leading UK independent PR consultancy. The awards are supported by Unltd who support social entrepreneurs.