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Update on the grant fund
The grant fund is largely allocated but projects interested in working with us can register an interest with their broker.

For an update on the future of Communities @One click here.

Communities @One helps people in the most disadvantaged communities in Wales get access to new technologies through a grant fund.

We take a community led approach and respond to local needs, building on existing digital inclusion work. We want to help people who are most excluded from new technologies and give them the opportunity to see what it can do for them.

Who is eligible?
Communities @One works in Communities First areas of Wales. These are the 142 electoral wards on the Welsh Index of Multiple Deprivation.

Community Brokers work with community and voluntary groups and help them build a project to help people start using ICT (information and communication technologies). Projects should ultimately benefit the community.

Community Brokers
Brokers provide advice during the planning phase on viable projects, how to make best use of existing equipment and help groups prepare the grant application.

What is eligible?
Grants can fund both support staff, such as mentors, and equipment. So far we have supported a range of projects from:

• laptops to help for people who are isolated to keep in touch by email
• computer suites and cyber cafes with free ‘drop–in’ internet access to help people research their family tree, do job searches and access on–line advice or learning
• mentors to support people at their own pace, encourage them and signpost to further learning
• digital photography or story–telling projects that develop many skills and can increase community spirit
• technical support to ensure projects can run smoothly
• community websites
  

Look at our list of projects funded so far

Grant application
An application form is completed with the brokers help, planning and costing everything that will make the project work. This normally takes a few months. When the application is ready the group applies to the grant fund. Applications are assessed by a Grants Panel made up of people who work in community development, ICT and media.

Grant fund
Communities @One launched in January 2006. The original value of the grant fund was £4.5 million to help support projects until May 2008. This was increased to meet the huge demand for our support. By July 2007 £5.5 million had been committed to 150 community ICT projects across Wales. In December 2007 Communities @One announced that over £6 million had been committed to over 200 community ICT projects across Wales.
The grant fund is largely allocated but projects interested in working with us can register an interest with their broker.