UK Website Among Nominations for International Children's Internet Award 17 January 2002

The UK-based website, www.bubblycrew.org.uk, which brings together young carers in West London, is among the nominations announced today (17 January), for the 2002 Cable & Wireless Childnet Awards. (See Notes to Editor for a definition of the awards).

The UK project is one of 11 nominations selected from a total of 160 entries, in line to receive prizes and international recognition across four categories, at this year’s Awards’ ceremony which will take place in Paris, France in April 2002.

Nominated in the ‘Not for profit’ category, the ‘Bubblycrew’ website is produced by Hammersmith and Fulham Young Carers Centre in partnership with the Children’s Society’s Children and Neighbourhoods in London scheme. Using a mixture of Flash animation, interviews and illustrations, the site enables young people to share their experiences of what it is like to have to care for parents or siblings at a young age.

Fiona Side, Acting Scheme Manager for Children and Neighbourhoods in London, explains: "This project has enabled young carers to create a unique website based on their own experiences. Through active participation in this project the young carers have gained confidence, developed new skills and formed a strong support network for each other. The Cable & Wireless Childnet Awards provide recognition of hard work by young people. Many people have looked at the website for the first time because it has been shortlisted for an award."

This year's entries were assessed by a special Children's team and by an International Judging Panel. The judges were looking not so much for technical expertise or sophisticated web design work, but rather how children are using the Internet creatively to connect and engage with others and meet the challenges of the 21st century.

All nominated projects win a trip for two to attend the Paris event in April and the nominees list includes entries from Australia, Burkina Faso, France, Hong Kong, Reunion, Russia, Sweden and USA. The full list of categories, nominations and commended sites can be seen at: http://www.childnetawards.org/ (select: 2002 Shortlist announcement).

The four categories are: ‘Individuals’, ‘Schools’, ‘Not for profit’ and ‘New to the Net’. The ‘New to the Net’ category is included for the first time and has been introduced specially for those who might not have direct Internet access but who nevertheless have new and exciting ideas for Internet-based projects and activities to benefit children.

The ‘New to the Net’ category includes two very different nominations: Edukafaso, a small French non-profit organization helps children in Burkina Faso to start to use the Internet in their schools, while Pauline Yeung from Hong Kong is designing a new project to establish a special on-line Children’s Parliament.

The Awards have been sponsored by Cable and Wireless plc since 1997. Christophe Pochart, Vice President, Cable & Wireless France, and also one of the judges says, "Cable & Wireless is delighted to be involved with Childnet, which is working so hard to help make the Internet a great and safe place for children. It is encouraging to see the way that children are beginning to use the Internet creatively and responsibility to challenge adults and children alike and help break down barriers and support other children around the world."

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Stephen Carrick-Davies, Childnet International,
Mobile: +44 (0) 771 245 1859
e-mail: stephen@childnet-int.org

Ed Knight, Cable and Wireless plc,
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7315 6759
e-mail: ed.knight@cw.com

Notes to Editor:
1. Cable & Wireless Childnet Awards
The Cable & Wireless Childnet Awards, now in their 5th Year, reward innovative Internet projects produced by children or teachers, that directly benefit other children world-wide. The awards are run by non-profit organisation Childnet International and are sponsored by Cable & Wireless, the global telecommunications group.

2. Childnet International
Children's Internet charity, Childnet International was set up in 1995 with the aim of helping to make the Internet a great and safe place for children. The organisation works in four key function areas:
Access, - promoting access to the Internet to those who stand most to benefit.
Awareness - helping children acquire new net literacy skills and giving advice to parents and the media about Internet safety.
Protection - providing vital co-ordination between many international organisations working to protect children.
And Policy - advising Industry and others on policy issues relating to children's safe use of the Internet. Full details of this work and the specific projects Childnet runs is available at www.childnet-int.org

3. About Cable & Wireless
Cable & Wireless is a major global telecommunications business with revenue of over £8 billion (US$11 billion) in the year to 31 March 2001 and customers in 70 countries. Cable & Wireless’ focus for future growth is on IP (Internet protocol) and data services and solutions for business customers. It is developing advanced IP networks and value-added services in the US, Europe and the Asia-Pacific region in support of this strategy. With the capability of its global IP infrastructure and its strength in key markets, Cable & Wireless holds a unique position in terms of global coverage and services to business customers. For more information about Cable & Wireless, go to www.cw.com