News and Media
WIMPS win European Award
Thursday 29 December 2005 Business and GovernmentThe word "wimp" is normally a mild insult aimed at people who lack backbone or courage, but Biznet Solutions have helped Public Achievement turn this definition on its head. Their novel WIMPS? (Where Is My Public Servant?) website is to be given a top European award for its achievement involving youth.
www.wimps.org.uk is to be given a Young Active Citizens award by the prestigious Council of Europe, which is based in Strasbourg. The achievement is all the more remarkable since it is one of only five youth projects throughout Europe to be given such an award this year. The Wimps project tackles head-on the problem of engaging young people with local political representatives so as draw the young into the public policy issues that matter to them, something notoriously difficult to do.
Working closely with ten specially selected young people from Northern Ireland, Biznet designed the website and integrated with a system developed by Political Wizard to allow users to type in their post-code and then to be given immediate relevant and useful information. The website returns email links to relevant local councillors, MPs, MLAs and MEPs, plus links to local newspapers and broadcasting. It makes communication with politicians and journalists much easier. There are interviews with politicians and government officials, special articles, picture galleries featuring young people's achievements and a discussion area. At its heart is the promotion of active citizenship for young people.
Adrian Bradley of Biznet Solutions said, "We are very pleased that a Northern Ireland organisation has won this important award, specifically for promoting innovative web-based initiatives to encourage the participation of young people."
The award will be presented at a ceremony in Strasbourg on 31 January.