Case Study: 5 Counties ICT Project

GMCVO's Five Counties ICT Project built on the success of the Three Counties Project. This was made up of Cumbria, Lancashire and Greater Manchester, and these were joined by Merseyside and Cheshire in the expanded Project. The five main threads of the project were:

• The delivery of an accredited ICT management training module
• Dissemination of work done on data protection audit and procedures
• Dissemination of work done on creating corporate IT filing systems
• Co-ordination of e-communities networks
• Development of mechanisms for sharing electronic data

The 5 Counties Project was successfully concluded after two years in 2006. One of the most significant outcomes was the establishment of relationships and contacts across the entire region.The mix of larger urban consortia and rural consortia was invaluable. The urban consortia were able to offer support and resources to the rural counties, and the rural partners able to assist in the ‘rural proofing’ and prepare for DeFRA investment. The joint working arrangements have also meant the interests of the sub regions have been represented at the regional level. Best practice was shared throughout each of the regions.

Greater Manchester (GM) undertook an analysis of the ChangeUp ICT investment plans to look for opportunities for collaboration, and funding was secured for the 5 Counties Officer to co-ordinate and support the involvement of the ChangeUp lead bodies and the deployment of the funds. All resources developed through the ‘Five Counties Project’ are jointly owned by the partners. They are therefore able to use them freely to assist voluntary organisations in their areas.