BT Commits to Connecting Communities

BT Commits to Connecting Communities

BT, one of the world's leading communications services companies has today launched a major initiative to help communities across Ireland get online.

The BT Connected Communities initiative will establish on the ground IT support and resources to create online public spaces in a bid to tackle online social exclusion.

Moyross Community Enterprise Centre in Limerick, St Michael's Estate Regeneration Board, Inchicore and the Ringsend & Irishtown Community Centre, Dublin, are amongst six community groups participating in the initiative which will see IT resources and technical support rolled out to leading partner organisations across the country.

The overall initiative amounts to the equivalent of approximately €700,000 in financial support and support in kind by BT over three years.

Shay Walsh, Managing Director Wholesale for BT Ireland said,

The BT Connected Communities programme aims to provide disadvantaged communities with IT resources and training. Social exclusion comes in many forms and a lack of access to IT resources and training is now up there as key area where disadvantaged communities are being left behind.

With this initiative BT will be working with the community groups directly addressing specific community IT needs. We are not only investing resources in technology and infrastructure in each of the communities involved, over the next three years, hundreds of BT employees will volunteer their time in making this happen. By creating these online public spaces we are working in partnership with the community groups involved to empower people to use IT to benefit their everyday lives.'

Paddy Flannery, Centre Manager at the Moyross Community Enterprise Centre, Limerick commented,

The support of BT will play a crucial part in the work we are doing in the Moyross Community Enterprise Centre.
'This is a long term investment in the future of Moyross residents, the user friendly and inclusive programme and the onsite expertise will go a long way towards developing IT skills in the area. We see the backing of BT as a huge endorsement of the work we are doing here on a day-to-day basis and what we to striving to achieve. We look forward to working with BT in rolling out this worthwhile initiative.

Finbarr Flood, Chair of the St Michael's Estate Regeneration Board, Inchicore, Dublin continues,

We at the St Michael's Regeneration Board see this as an excellent opportunity for the community that will significantly enhance the regeneration process which is underway. Regardless of what level of ICT skills people might have this initiative will allow people to enter at various levels from beginners to the more advanced. The user friendly and all inclusive nature of the programme will play a key part in its success.

BT has enlisted the help of its major partners Microsoft and Three to bring additional resources to each of the groups participating in the scheme.

Last year BT invested over €1 million in financial support and support-in-kind across Ireland through its corporate responsibility programme, which aims to encourage more people to get online and become part of the digital society.

BT employs more than 900 people in the Republic of Ireland and has offices in Limerick, Cork, Dublin, Galway and Waterford.