Trust looks to bigger advice role

By MICHAEL FOREMAN

The Wellington-based 2020 Community Trust is to open an Auckland branch as a stepping stone to becoming a national co-ordinator of community IT projects.

Trust chairman Ian Thomson said that the Auckland branch would be running in two months and a Hamilton office was also planned. He said the trust acted as a think tank to promote social and economic inclusion in the knowledge economy.

Last year it multiplied core funding of $85,000 from Wellington City Council into $500,000 worth of projects, with sponsorships from IT organisations including Telecom, Ericsson and Nortel, and from Government grants.

Projects administered by the 30-strong volunteer force included Netday, which enabled schools to install local area networks cheaply, Community Net, which has helped 300 community organisations to set up web sites, and the Computers in Homes programme, which has provided 300 low-income families with recycled internet-connected computers and training.

Thomson said a national organisation was necessary to co-ordinate projects like "smart communities" designed to close the digital divide.

He said he was talking to lead volunteers in Auckland, and the organisation would now approach councils and private sponsors.

2020 Communications Trust