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Awards call for social technology heroes

People who are using social technology in new and exciting ways to help their communities are being encouraged to enter a new awards programme.

The UK Catalyst Awards: Community Awards for Social Change are looking for community activists, social entrepreneurs, software developers and Web2.0 technologists and designers, who are helping individuals and neighbourhoods to connect with each other in a positive way.

The awards were set up by Prime Minister Gordon Brown, with the backing of organisations including the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform and the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts (Nesta).

There are nine Catalyst awards up for grabs, including The Shock for Good Award for something that shocked people into doing something good; The Revolutionary Award for something that makes people in power more aware of the need for change and The Self-Help Award for something that helps the creator to help themselves. There will also be a public vote online to decide the People’s Choice Award.

The awards are being coordinated by Make Your Mark, the national campaign to unlock the UK’s enterprise potential. Pamela Hargreaves, head of the Make Your Mark campaign in Tees Valley said: “I’m really looking forward to seeing the scope of imagination that these awards will unearth from people in the region who have found new and exciting ways to work within their communities.

“The North East’s reputation for technology is really strong so we really welcome this awards programme which will give people the chance to shine a spotlight on their activities and hopefully inspire others to realise the potential that exists for putting technology to good use in our communities.”

The applications deadline is Monday 16 June 2008. Find out more and enter at: www.ukcatalystawards.com.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .