IntraCom stands for Interconnecting Rural and Urban Communities. This project, stems from research carried out in Devon in 1996/7. This research showed that many people have difficulty in finding up to date, useful information, especially those living in rural areas. The project aims to build up networks using Information and Communication technology (ICT) to answer that problem. It also aims to keep people informed about services that can help them and hopefully encourage people to begin to use computers more for training and business purposes.

There is a local project board made up of representatives from North Devon district council, Devon county council and regional parish councils who are developing the system (technical, social and financial) that is required for the district, but it is important to note that the project itself is an independent one and will be driven within each community by local volunteers.

The IntraCom North Devon project will provide computer-based information for communities throughout North Devon District that might include:

� Local activities, events and meetings,
� Things to buy and sell
� Council services
� Local business products and services
� Job vacancies
� Contact information e.g. self help and support groups
� Careers, benefits, travel, tourist information

This information will be developed into a network of local community web-sites that will eventually cover the whole of the District joining both rural and urban communities.�

The information will be accessible on personal computers used in the home. The project will also promote the system at a variety of public access points e.g. Libraries and community telecentres and encourage existing statutory bodies to adopt and promote the local web-sites where appropriate

The project is steered by the North Devon project board working under the umbrella of the Devon steering and interest board. Local management is provided by the North Devon Pathfinder Trust which will line manages the staff and administers the finances. A community development worker and IT support officer have been appointed to develop the work locally.�

The project works closely with other computer-based initiatives to ensure there is no duplication of activity and instead aims to add value to such projects. The project also works closely with local Internet businesses to ensure that appropriate commercial web links are made and that businesses locally benefit from the project. It is publicised through local media especially parish/town newsletters.

Currently, the project is supported by Devon county council, North Devon district council and parish councils at South Molton, Lynton and Lynmouth, Braunton, Ilfracombe, Chulmleigh and Combe Martin.�

Links to other Projects

Rural Telecentres: Centres at Chulmleigh, South Molton, Lynton and Ilfracombe originally funded by RATIO and others are seen as a vital resource for this project. They provide opportunities for training to be delivered locally, for the uploading of data and for public access to the local web-sites.

North Devon on Disc: This is a project being developed locally which aims to encourage local communities to research the histories of their localities and to build up archives to be stored and accessed via CD-ROM. It is a joint project between North Devon District Council, Torridge District Council, the Beaford Centre, Devon County Council and other groups. Funding is being sought from Department for Culture, Media and Sport and the South West Museums Council. It involves setting up mobile computer input units which will spend time in individual parishes enabling local communities to create archives mostly about the 20th century. There are obvious opportunities for this project to become web-based and the two projects will keep in close contact looking for opportunities for joint working.

North Devon District Council Web Site: A new version of the website was launched on 15th June 2000 which gives comprehensive information about the Councils' Services, regularly updated news bulletins, planning information, committee minutes, job vacancies and more....The site also acts as a portal providing links to tourism, community and local websites working in partnership to avoid duplication, making it easier for the public to find information.

Aims and Objectives�

The aims and objectives of IntraCom North Devon are:

� Encourage social inclusion by engaging all sectors of the community in identifying useful local information
� Achieve active working partnerships within local communities to gather, store and manage local information
� Encourage local communities to use computerised networks to aid local social, environmental and economic regeneration�
� Increase access to local information by making community information available via the Internet
� Promote the community information service locally
� Enable local people to be trained in the use of community networks and general Internet skills to enable them to benefit from the wide range of information available through IntraCom and the Internet
� Encourage local community service providers e.g. Schools to contribute to and use local information
� Promote disabled access to IST

Need for the Project

The project was established as a result of Research conducted in Devon in 1996/7 as a part of the Descriptor project. This project which investigated problems and information needs of people living and working in rural West Devon raised the following issues which are relevant to this project:

� General lack of awareness of local services and their uses
� Lack of user involvement and poor motivation
� Fear of technology
� Inadequate public transport
� Low use of personal networking e.g. e-mail
� Poor accessibility to systems due to lack of infrastructure
� Poor range and scope of Information Society Technologies (IST)
� Lack of competence and confidence in IST

Ethnic Minorities

Ethnic minorities in North Devon total around 1,000 individuals (1991 census) out of a population of 84,800. The numbers within each ethnic group are low and therefore individuals are isolated from other with a similar cultural background. This project aims to increase the opportunities for social contact across Devon by the establishment of chat lines and discussion pages.

Day to day work of the project

The community worker recruits and establishes local volunteer groups. These volunteers collect local information and build up web sites. The volunteers will be given a half day basic training to enable them to in-put information directly. At least one person for each settlement will be appointed as local community editor and given more intensive training. This person would therefore be in a position to provide local support. The community worker will provide advice, support, mentoring and if appropriate training in the management of voluntary groups to key volunteers. The community worker will also publicise the project locally.�

The IT support officer is responsible for developing the technical aspects of the web sites, checking technical accuracy of individual pages, developing links between local pages as well as external sites and establishing the local portal. He will also provide design advice and expertise to the local groups and identify the IT training needs of the groups. Training and software will be provided to volunteers.

Access to the Internet

There are public access points at all of the settlements proposed for the project. These are through local libraries and rural telecentres. The Clerks of all the Parish/Town Councils except for Chulmleigh all have PC's linked to email and Internet. The project will establish if there is a need for additional public access points and if appropriate separate funding will be sought.

Project Outcomes

� Increased accessibility of local business and employment information
� Improved local IT skill in managing, accessing and in-putting web based information
� Increased opportunities to inform and involve local communities in regeneration projects
� Increased accessibility of local community information�
� Increased information on services and opportunities for disadvantaged rural groups
� Increased opportunities for social contact for isolated groups
� Increased opportunities for dissemination of information
� Increased opportunities for community involvement in the local democratic process through the provision of discussion forums and email links to local councillors