Local IT Heroes Celebrated at National IT Awards
by Josh Hoole (iT4C Development Consultant)
4 December 2007
Local resident Steven Bowers and Sally Grey along with Berkshire County Blind Society (BCBS) were celebrated as finalists in the Best Innovations Category at the annual iT4Communities IT Volunteer Awards Ceremony held at the Information Technologists’ Hall in London on Thursday 29th November.
Steven Bowers, a visually impaired volunteer, supported by Sally Grey, a sighted volunteer, worked with BCBS to deliver a pilot training programme that introduced visually impaired people to the joys of online shopping through Tesco.com, the only fully accessible online supermarket.
As Steven collected his certificate he said: “I am so pleased to win and now understand how we all fit into the 'bigger picture' of IT and volunteering”.
The judges said: “This was a pioneering user-led approach to the delivery of services”.
John Davies, the Programme Director of iT4Communities, a charity that introduces Volunteer IT professional volunteers to charities needing IT help, said: “The Awards celebrate the very best of what can be achieved through IT Volunteering and Steven Bowers and Sally Grey has really given something back through helping BCBS and the local community – well done!”
You can see all the winners and projects on their website at
www.it4communities.org.uk/it4c/home/Awards2007/awards.jsp
iT4Communities is the national IT volunteering programme that introduces Volunteer IT Professionals to charities needing IT help. Their robust code of conduct means that charities are safe in the knowledge that the Volunteer IT Professional has at least one year IT experience with relevant IT qualifications or at least three years IT experience without relevant qualifications. For more information visit their website at
www.it4communities.org.uk
